I have definitely felt like I have escaped bleak and dreary aka “summery” Newport and been transported to the beautiful vineyards of Italy. I loved the evocative and escapist experience this book gave me as I was able to feel like I had followed Zia’s journey and could see the scenery, taste the wine and so on.

I was definitely drawn in by Zia’s character and felt sympathy for her situation. She is feeling a little lost after losing her job and the end of a serious relationship, and her search for identity and belonging takes her to Italy. Zia has come across as a likeable, down-to-earth character and I have been hopeful that this journey would satisfy her desire to find out the truth of the past, but also find a place and direction to map out her future.

This complex and vital search for identity, belonging and home ensures that this book is much more than a fun and escapist holiday romance (though it is that too!) The romantic storyline is perfectly pitched and appropriately developed in order to appear authentic and yet still showcases those romantic ideals that we all need at times, in a book such as this.

I definitely feel like this book has taken me on an emotional as well as almost physical journey to Italy, and has had me rooting for the happiness and answers Zia both desires and deserves. The author has packed in much more drama and twists and turns than I expected, and this has definitely peaked my interest. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Jo Thomas, T A Williams and Lucy Coleman.

Under the Italian Sun is a cozy mystery, romance and Italy wrapped up in a book package. The Italian vineyard is described so beautifully by the author that I felt I was sitting in a vineyard and reading this book. Zia and Piero are jaded by their own experiences but lovable characters. Zia is in search of her family and Piero is trying to protect his family. None of the characters in this novel are perfect but every one of them has played a perfect role in this charming book. A perfect summer read.

Zia knows only knows one side of her family history but she’s about to find out she knows even less than she realises during a trip to Umbria to discover her past.
This novel is so much more than a romance novel. There are definitely elements of romance but for me, the most fascinating plot was that of Zia’s early years and family. Combined with strong friendships, all these elements combine together wonderfully to create a lovely novel about a young woman’s search to find out who she really is.
There are so many different relationships to enjoy in Under the Italian Sun. Zia’s friendship with Ursula is fabulous. They are opposite but balance each other out and support each other so much. Then there is Zia’s past relationship with her late mother and grandparents which it completely thrown into disarray after a shocking discovery. Lucia and her family and how they link to her past in various ways. And of course, Piero is drawing Lucia in and their chemistry is gentle but there. Woven together in an intricate and emotional plot, it’s difficult to stop reading once you begin.
Just to add the cherry on top, the setting is beautiful. The views and surrounding areas are so vividly described that I could imagine myself sitting on the porch and looking out over the vineyards.
A lovely but emotional book with a rich plot and wonderful characters.

Under the Italian Sun is slow build as Sue Moorcroft eloquently describes the Italian landscape and introduces all of the characters. Once she sets the scene, I devoured the chapters to learn more about the mystery surrounding Zia-Lucia’s family and Piero’s family vineyard. The characters were wonderfully written so that you know who to love (Zia, Piero, Lucia and Durante!) and who to hate (Brendon and Graziella!). An enchanting story about love, family and, best of all, wine! 
P.S. Can we get a follow up called Under the Italian Stars since Piero loved to show the stars to Zia?!

I had so much fun reading this book!

Not only am I, like so many other people not getting a summer holiday this year but it has been the most grey, miserable and rainy May I can recall having in years.

This was the perfect read to get me through these drizzly days!

It was a lovely summer read with an intriguing mystery and a sizzling romance! What more could you want?

Zia Lucia and her best friend Ursula are jetting off to Italy to the quaint town of Montelibertà, Umbria. This is not just a summer get away though. This is a journey for adopted Zia to find out more about her real parents and what happened to them after recently discovering that her mother was not really her mother and that her father was Italian!

Zia hopes to track him down, get to know him and see if she can get herself an Italian passport too.

Zia quickly begins to unravel the secrets of her family and is embraced by her extended family and starts to think of Italy as home pretty quickly. Throughout this she is also becoming increasingly entangled with Piero...

Oh, Piero! He is the sexy Italian boyfriend that we all want! He owns a Vineyard along with his father and brother and there's a whole lot of drama going on with that which just adds a bit of extra spice to the story!

The romance between these two is fantastic. The chemistry is there from the start, they are so good together but there are times when things go wrong and they fight and that just makes you root for them even more! Sue is such an excellent romance writer and had me completely convinced about these two right from the off.

The side characters are excellent and likable, most especially Lucia and Durante who I grew very attached to!

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book is that it was not all just about romance. We have mystery, mental health issues, alcoholism, loss and manipulative and spiteful ex partners to deal with as well. There's so much going on that I never once felt bored.

If you are looking for a bit of escapism with intriguing characters and a beautiful setting then you are going to want to add this one to your summer reading list!

Read at a time when all we can do is dream about the Italian countryside, this book provided the ideal escape to the sunnier climes and plenty of tantalising Italian food and drink! We meet Zia who, with her best friend Ursula, heads to Italy in search of answers about her parentage. Zia is a lovely character and I connected with her straight away. My heart went out to her when she discovers that everything she’s ever known may have been a lie and I wanted those answers just as much as what she did! I loved her friendship with Ursula, and thought this worked perfectly. There are plenty of other characters that you will love, and even some that you won’t want to, and the author has written them so well that by the end of the book I felt as if I was leaving old friends.

Zia’s storyline is an emotional one and certainly does tug at the heart-strings in places. Her journey to find the answers to years old family secrets was interesting and captured me from the first page. Of course, there is a romantic element to the story and we are treated to a slow build up of a budding relationship between Zia and the handsome Piero Domenicali. The author has captured the emotions of all the different characters so well and has produced a book which is not just a romantic read, but one filled with lies, secrets and that little bit of mystery in unravelling them all. The characters are well thought out, the location is to die for and how I haven’t added pounds reading about all the delicious food and drink I don’t know!! If you are looking for a book to put a smile on your face and warm your heart, then look no further. Would definitely recommend!!

Really enjoyed my trip to Italy. The descriptions of the Italian scenery, not to mention the food and drink, immediately transported me to sunnier climes. The story is one of my favourites by the author, pulling the reader in and wondering how it will all turn out for Zia. The characters spring from the page and with a bit of mystery and romance for good measure, this book ticks all the boxes. The only problem now is I ache to visit these places and keep adding to my bucket list.

This has just become my new favourite book my Sue Moorcroft, set against the gorgeous backdrop of Italian sunshine and vineyards what is there not to love.

Zia is a wonderful main character who has had more than her fair share of heartbreak growing up and is now on a mission to find out if she can claim her Italian heritage.

I loved the characters in this story and the relationship Zia established with Lucia as she reconnected family ties and learn the truth about what happened to her mother.

This is a story where you are constantly surprised by little revelations as you read, although Zia has experienced heartbreak this is a light hearted story that made me laugh and smile throughout.

I love it when a book transports me and makes me forget what is going on around me and this story held my attention from the first few pages and I felt like I'd lost a friend when I reached the end.

When Zia finds out that her mother is not who she thought she was, and that she has Italian connections she knew nothing about, she decides to head to the town of Montelibertà in the Umbria region to get to know more.

She falls in love with the place and feels so welcomed by her extended family that she almost wants to settle there. To add to the attraction is Piero, who owns the vineyard next door. Zia can’t stay on in Italy without proving that she has Italian roots and these are hard to establish. Will she be able to do that? Will she be able to find the Dad she never knew? Will Piero be able to resolve the conflict in his family and follow his heart and passion?

The author had me invested in the story from the start. She takes us on a journey through the beautiful countryside of Umbria. And we’re drawn not just into the romance between Zia and Piero, but the stories of both their families.

I love how this book is not just a romance novel, but deals with more difficult issues of family conflict, mental health issues and loss with a great deal of sensitivity.

This is one of those books you can get lost in and I did reading it right through.

Will be looking out for more books from Sue Moorcraft for sure.

This is my first book by Sue Moorcroft (know, I know, I’m late to the party) and I really enjoyed it. I loved the setting and backdrop of Italy - it provided a beautiful escape from reality.

The story is that of Zia, who finds some letters, belonging to her mother, that has her questioning things. To learn more about her mother and to get the answers that she desperately needs, she embarks on a trip to Italy, with her best friend. Their friendship was adorable and I couldn’t help but become invested in Zia’s life and quest for answers.

I really loved the chemistry created between Zia and Piero, despite him clearly having his own baggage too. There’s that swoon worthy romance you like to find between the covers of books, whilst not fitting the stereotypical romance novel.

The story had a bit of everything in it, in that it was one which covered friendships, new starts, romance, mystery/intrigue and it made you want to turn the pages.

A book of beautiful things and one worth investing your time in reading.

Under the Italian Sun
By Sue Moorcroft
Pud Date May 13 2021
I love sue moorcroft books I was so happy to read this book. I loved the fact it was based in Italy and travel and based on lost families and vineyard. I loved learning about the vineyard the history of her family and the different wines. There is a beautiful romance which I loved. I like Zia character had such such amazing chemistry well all the characters were amazing. Sue Moor Croft books are a compelling read you enjoy x
It’s also a emotional read in a good way x

This is a thoughtful, considered novel from Moorcroft and I enjoyed the gradual development of the plot. Like the undulating countryside of Italy, I liked watching the story unfold and felt fully invested in this summery tale.

Imagine learning that everything you thought you knew about your family was not actually true? This is what poor Zia learns in the opening chapter, which quickly had me engrossed for the rest of the story. As a protagonist, Zia is such a lovely character. Her world completely shifts when she learns some essential information about her mother, leading her to seek out an Italian family that she has no relationship with. Bringing her best friend with her for moral support, Zia finds herself getting rather friendly with the local Piero, living next to her and Ursula. As Zia is determined to seek further answers about her family background, this coincides with Piero’s own family turbulence.

Running parallel to Zia’s story, readers gain an insight into Piero’s family and the running of the vineyard. The place where Zia lives for a few months and Piero’s house are all presented as incredibly idyllic and I could vividly picture the Italian countryside and amazing scenes. However, this is spoiled by the conflict in Piero’s family of potentially selling the vineyard – at the cost of losing his home and workshop.

Zia’s investigations into her family are heartfelt and there are some truly emotional scenes. I found her loneliness palpable and was so pleased when she started to build relationships in Italy. Forever lurking in the background, I grew to despise her haunting ex, and was pleased that Zia had her best friend for moral support – even though Ursula, herself, is going through her own troubles.

Suffice to say, troubles dominate this narrative but the method that Moorcroft presents the story is really interesting. I felt taken away to spending summer in Italy and relaxed with Zia. Yet, there is still a fission of tension running throughout the novel because of the secrets of Zia’s family. In particular, the scenes with Zia and Harry were especially emotional and I felt like I was sharing Zia’s rollercoaster.

Although there is a love interest in this story, Moorcroft’s narrative is more about family connections. The supporting characters are typical, friendly, family-orientated Italians and, whilst the chapters were incredibly lengthy, I found that I just could not put this story down. There was so much on offer with this story that it definitely felt more than just a love story.

Such an interesting and developed narrative! Zia’s story is an interesting one and I felt on holiday with her – tempted with Italian locals, Italian food and Italian wine. Bliss!

With thanks to Avon books, Harper Collins, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are plenty of story threads to follow in this novel and all of them are rewarding. Most surprising is the undercurrent of controlling relationships, seen affecting both Zia and her best friend, Ursula, as well at least one other character. Zia has been raised by her grandparents and has an instinct to protect herself which kicks in to preserve her independence. In many ways, Ursula has become her family now and she is fiercely loyal. Family relationships and ties fill the story, as Zia searches for answers.

The setting in Italy is stunning and full of the sights and sounds of the countryside. Piero's beautiful house, perched on the hillside overlooking his family's vineyard, sounds gorgeous. Who wouldn't want to be on its terrace, looking at the stars at night? Idyllic though it seems, there are some difficult problems posed by it for his family and Piero is torn between the needs of his family and his wish to stay there. There are plenty of secrets from the past which Zia has to discover. With some lovely descriptions and vibrant characters, this is a fabulous read to savour.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

This was a read that has me dreaming of a vacation visiting the Umbria region in Italy. This one has a little mystery, a little romance, some wonderful characters, and a gorgeous setting which comes together to make this a delightful book.

Zia has never known her father and her mother died when she was 10. She finds letters that instead of giving her answers, just open up more questions.

Zia travels with her best friend, Ursula, from England to Umbria, Italy to see if she can find true connections to her Italian roots.

Once in Umbria, she meets Piero who even though he knows his roots has a different set of family problems.

Past, present, and future relationships meld together for Zia and those she holds dear.

I was intrigued by the plot of this book and really enjoyed the first few chapters of Zoe’s search for her Italian father. The discovery of the two Victorias and the mystery surrounding them added to the promise of revelations to come. However I felt the story lost its way a little and the excitement was diminished with the inclusion of the boring vineyard saga. I felt it added nothing to the original plot and did nothing to enhance it. I’m afraid I skipped through most of those chapters as they became so repetitive. I also felt the revelation of Zoe’s true mother and her story was rather rushed and I would have liked to have found out more detail, maybe less vineyard saga and more main plot would have helped. Overall I enjoyed the book but I didn’t feel it was one of Sue’s best, but that’s just a personal opinion. If you’re wanting a bit of hot Italian sunshine and romance in your life then you’ll enjoy this book.

What a gorgeous read Under the Italian Sun is. I absolutely loved it!
Zia is a lovely character, who I warmed to immediately. I really felt for her when she discovers her life hasn’t quite been as she had thought and that those closest to her had obviously kept a lot from her. To protect, her of course, but still. I understood her need to know and I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with her to Italy in search of answers.
I loved her friendship with Ursula. They have their ups and downs like most best friends do but it was nice to see them spend some quality time together as Ursula joins Zia on her travels.
The setting of this book sounds divine. I have never been to Italy, but I have always wanted to visit. I was very jealous of their lazy lunches and coffees on the terrace in the glorious sunshine. It sounds amazing!
Of course, there is much more to this story than two best friends on holiday in Italy. This is the story of a young woman looking for the truth about her family and the overwhelming emotion involved. We meet some lovely characters along the way (and some not so lovely ones). Piero is an interesting character, and I loved the relationship that develops between him and Zia, although it isn’t without its struggles and misunderstandings. I was rooting for them from the start and for Zia to find her truth, make peace with her past, and move on to happier times.
A really lovely, beautifully written story which I very much recommend.

I quite enjoyed this story, set mainly in Italy. I have been to Italy but not the part where it was set but I could imagine it. Zia had been brought up by her grandparents after her mother had died when she was young. But did not really know much about her parentage. Having found letters and Birth and Death certificates she made a decision to go to Italy to find out more. Her Best friend went with her.

I struggled following who was who in Italy as so many people were introduced also some of the Italian used when not translated I did not 6understand, some I could guess. In Italy it became very involved as the Vineyard was been sold and the dealings for me became complicated.

Also I was not happy by the use of the 'F' this seems to be creeping in now by a lot of authors. Surely other less offensive words could be used. It could be me and my age but my family and friends have never used this word. If this does not upset you then I can recommend it.

Thanks to netgalley for my chance to read this in exchange for an honest review which I give freely

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Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers has always been intrigued by her unusual name and with the time now right she is determined to find out as much as she can about her Italian heritage and of the family secrets which have been hidden from her for far too long.

Travelling to Montelibertà in Italy with her best friend Ursula, Zia is nervous about what she will find in this pretty Italian town but Zia is determined to find out the truth about what happened over thirty years ago. Zia does her best to search out the truth and in doing so she discovers far more about herself in the process, especially about what she wants from life.... and love.

Combining an interesting story about complex family secrets with a smattering of romance is what this author does best and I was as much interested in Zia discovering the secrets about her past as I was in her burgeoning relationship with Piero, the local vineyard owner who lives next door.

Stepping into the Italian sunshine with this talented author is like being transported into the warmth and beauty of a summer afternoon with the scent of Cypress all around and the sound of cicadas carried on the warm Umbrian breeze. Beautifully descriptive of time and place, Under the Italian Sun is every bit as good as I knew it would be as nothing from this author ever disappoints. It's perfect escapism for this difficult time when we are unable to travel very far away from our favourite armchair. It makes a great holiday read and even if we can’t travel too far afield this beautifully written story certainly brings a little bit of much needed sunshine into a grey and unsettled world.

I was so lucky to get an advance copy of this one. It’s the perfect feel-good read at a time when we can only arm-chair travel. I loved meeting Zia-Lucia and Piero and adored spending time with them in Italy. Another fantastic book from Sue.

If you're missing travel as much as I am, this book will transport you to the Italian countryside, filling your senses and your heart.

Under the Italian Sun was my first book by Sue Moorcroft. I can guarantee it will not be my last. This talented story teller not only brought her complex characters to life but also the lovely Umbria region of Italy in this emotional feast for the senses that is a heart-tugging blend of women's fiction and romance.

I felt an emotional attachment to Zia from the first, my heart going out to her as she discovered that everything she had known about her birth and life was based on lies. Her journey to uncover her roots was an immersive experience that elicited laughter, tears, unexpected truths, difficult decisions, and new connections. It also brought romance, deeper insight into who she is as a person and what she wants for her future. Zia, and her supporting cast, are well-developed characters who generated strong emotions, both among one another and within me, the reader. I felt as if I knew each of them, understood them, cared about them (well, the good ones - there are a few not so good) and would recognize them instantly should I encounter them in their bucolic corner of Italy. Much like Zia, I fell in love with the Italian people, their beautiful little corner of paradise, the wine, the food, and the handsome vineyard owner next door.

I enthusiastically recommend adding Under the Italian Sun by Sue Moorcroft to your summer reading list, accompanied by a glass of wine, a sunny terrace, and your favorite Italian cuisine. Sexy Italian vineyard owner, optional.

Tour Review - Rachel's Random Resources
*ARC received for fair and unbiased review