BRB while I book my flight to Tuscany, please! Love when a book can really transport you to a place with their writing!!

Cleo and Luca's love story was so sweet. One of my favorite tropes of fake marriage is always a win, they really sold it too!! Although the "hating" phase was brief, I enjoyed when the romance started out gradually. As the major shareholder, Cleo's company came from London to monitor a vineyard when the grandfather fell ill. One of the sons is Luca, which is how they initially connect. Overall, fantastic romance that had me captivated! 10/10 recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins/OMC for approving this ARC.

A romance set in Tuscany with a fake marriage trope and a mid 30's city worker FMC and a almost 40 vineyards son was always going to be an enjoyable read.

Cleo works for a bank that owns the majority stakeholder in a failing vineyard in Tuscany so she is tasked with spending a few days on the vineyard to see if the banks investment needs to be pulled or if she can turn it around.

While the head of the family is recovering from a stroke it's down to the son Luca to do what he does best and to charm Cleo, so she doesn't realize the trouble the Vineyard is in.

Working so closely together and Cleo seemingly immune to Luca's charm and after a misunderstanding at a wine convention they end up having to pretend to be married even when Cleo needs to stay on longer to help Luca realize he is more than just a good time and doesn't need his father's approval.

I loved the way Romy Sommer wrote this book. I felt like I was on the streets of Tuscany with the characters and experiencing the environment. Cleo and Luca's heartwarming story grows throughout the story with so much character development, all spanning from a misunderstanding at the beginning. The character growth feels very genuine and relatable to the everyday person. The writing about the wine making process was amazing as someone who has no idea what the process entails. It is easy to follow and leaves you wanting to try it yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the chance to review.

**My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Although this book can be read as a stand alone book, a lot of the characters were introduced to us in Last of the Summer Vines which is Sarah and Tomato's story.

Cleo in her mid thirtie is one of Sarah's friends who works at the bank and is sent over to Italy by her boss in order to help sort the Vineyard out after Giovanni has a stroke and is in recovery. It is Cleo's job to let them know if the Vineyard is a lost cause and if she can work her magic and get the job done, especially as she grew up on the Vineyards in South Africa.

Luca is the son of Giovanni and he is a confirmed bachelor getting closer to his forties. He has been well known as the man who will not settle down and has never found a woman that holds his interest for long. He oozes Italian charm, has GQ looks and is very smart. Although he works hard, he excels at making it look like he doesn't do much and lives down to his the expectations people have of him.

Cleo however turns everything upside down. First, she seems immune to Luca's charm, then after little white lies, she ends up living in his house and worming her way under his skin whilst she works hard and finds that she misses this simpler way of life.

Both characters grow as individuals, get stronger with someone fighting their corner and realise at points what their lives have been missing. Cleo is not afraid to ask the hard questions, but often hides her own true feelings.

We get some surprises, a good plot and a story that brings you in, wraps you up and takes you on a journey where you may even learn a little about wine without meaning too.

I really enjoyed this book and really hope that the author brings out another book based within the Tusan hills of Italy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the eARC! Wow! I want to go Tuscany, please! Cleo and Luca's love story was amazing. The plot of the fictitious marriage flowed extremely naturally, making it feel authentic. Although the "hating" phase was brief, I'm pleased the romance started out gradually. As the major shareholder, Cleo's company came from London to monitor a vineyard when the grandfather fell ill. One of the sons is Luca, which is how they initially connect. Overall, fantastic romance that had me captivated! Highly recommend!

My lord I think I gained five pounds reading about finding oneself, finding real love and a great bottle of wine to pare with any meal. The descriptions in this book were incredible. Italian wine country sounds like the perfect escape to reset all things wrong in your life. It was fun to see uptight money crunching Cleo thaw a little under Lucas charms. And for Luca to be taken down a notch from his impossible charm. This was a great read when you want to feel the sun on your face and feel the wind in your hair! Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion

A delightful and entertaining read. There is definitely chemistry in this fake marriage. The story is well written and descriptive.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was absolutely hands down one of the best romance books I've read. It kept you reading and I completely lost myself in the pages of this book. The characters, the setting, the story line, all of it, perfect! This is a romance lovers dread book, read it!!
I just reviewed My Fake Italian Marriage by Romy Sommer. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Who doesn't love a fake marriage romance? My Fake Italian Marriage checks all the boxes you want for this genre. Its lighthearted, entertaining on a slow burn.

My Fake Italian Marriage is a sweet story about Cleo, a woman sent to Italy to save her bank’s investment in a less than successful vineyard and the Fioravanti family who owns the property and produces a less than stellar wine. While the family patriarch recovers from a stroke his son, Luca must assist Cleo. Author Romy Sommer has created two interesting characters each of which has internal doubts about their self worth, which get magnified as rumors of their supposed marriage spread. This is a fun story.

Italian vineyard - Tick
Romy Sommers book - Tick
Gorgeous male lead - Tick
Delicious Italian food - Tick
Fake relationship trope - Tick

Well this ticked all the right boxes for me, to read a very entertaining and easy to read story,

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and seeing how Cleo and Luca get on, and just how they end up in a fake marriage.

I loved the circumstances of it all, and generally enjoyed every last word of this book.

Was a joy to read, and to spend time in the heat of the Italian sunshine, Fabulous holiday reading.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Ahhh such a fun read! I absolutely adore the fake dating trope, and this one was perfect. I can imagine this one going down so well being read on the beach with a cocktail in hand. An easy, intriguing read - highly recommended!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up! makes me want to eat pasta real bad 🤤 🍝

This was a fake dating/marriage of convenience romance set in beautiful, picturesque Tuscany. Cleo flies to Italy at her behest to save a vineyard that the bank she works at invested in. While there, she meets Luca, heir to the vineyard and absolute casanova. He’s everything she’s told herself she’s avoiding, and shocker — somehow can’t stay away from.

When they accidentally bump into Cleo’s recent ex boyfriend, who has already moved on, Luca introduces himself as Cleo’s husband to stick it to the Arse. The lie snowballs from there, and things get complicated!

While I found Luca’s playboy nature a bit hard to look past at points (he’s a 37 year old man that seriously thinks he’s cursed with irresistible looks and charm and can never settle down), I mostly got over it by the end! Cleo and Luca worked really well together, and they challenged each other in effective ways that helped them both grow.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange for my honest review!!

This book was my Italian dream brought to life!

Set in the beautiful Tuscan hills and vineyards, this story was delightful, sweetly steamy, and still romantic. Sworn off men after two failed relationships, Cleo is sent to Luca's family vineyard to protect her company's investment. Sparks fly, and a reluctant partnership is formed to keep the failing business alive.

Fabulous!

2.5 Stars
This book has everything you need for a good book recipe: Italy, wine, fake dating/marriage trope, slow burn.

Unfortunately that wasn't enough for me. The story was too slow and too long for my liking. It was a sweet story but it didn't make me feel much.

Thanks NetGalley for the ACR in exchange for an honest opinion!

unfortunately I just couldnt get into this book, I tried twice! I found the characters a bit too non-descript and Luca just came across as really unpleasant. i loved the idea of the story and the fact it was set in Italy which I love but i just didnt get on with it at all. apologies

Enemies to lovers isnt usually my jam but thanks to the publishers One First Chapter and Netgalley I really enjoyed this one...
I loved it more because it wasnt just all about the relationship and romance but about the layers to our main characters as well, they both have back stories which left me rooting for both throughout the book.

I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend.

4 stars

Cleo and Luca make an interesting couple! Honestly at the beginning he was not giving me the right vibes! I mean I’m okay with the instant connection but at first glance he seemed to be a little bit of a jer but I’m happy to stand corrected and find out Luca is an cute, good hearted and of course let’s not forget Italian.

I enjoyed the book, a great take in force proximity and fake dating tropes!

Sorry to say that I couldn’t really connect with this one. The writing seemed too formal and stilted to me, and it was a bit long. It didn’t really grab my interest, but I’m sure fans of this author will appreciate this story!

Content warning: estranged sibling

Cleo Arendse is a banker living in London. When her boss asks her to check on a questionable investment he made for personal reasons, she agrees to go to Italy for the weekend to scope out the failing vineyard he invested in. Her boss' faith lies in Cleo's discretion and the fact that she grew up on a wine farm in Africa (even though she knows nothing about farming grapes).

The owner of the Fioravanti vineyard has just suffered a stroke and will need a few months to recover. Since he runs most of the business, he calls in his lawyer son Luca to help with the winery until he can be back on his feet.

Cleo's short weekend trip becomes weeks, and she finds it increasingly harder to resist the gorgeous Luca's charms. She also discovers that the business is about to go bust, and must do whatever she can to help her boss recover from his bad investment. Then a little white lie about being married to help Cleo save face in front of an ex turns into a massive charade when practically the entire country of Italy finds out that they're "married" -- including Luca's family.

Recommended for romance readers who love a destination romance and/or the fake dating and forced proximity tropes. This novel radiates Under the Tuscan Sun energy.