This reads seamlessly. With easy to follow stories and language, it's as though it could be written from my own thoughts.
I loved the dynamics with the sisters and all their ups and downs. Overall. Such an easy, escapist read. I mean, beautiful settings, stunning humans? Who doesn't love that for a summer read.

The bittersweet finale in The Holiday Romance series. I have so enjoyed the previous books and watching these characters grow and fall in love all over the world. Barker is the queen of writing destination romances. Her descriptions about the scenery, food, locals and general ambience immediately transports you to that region. This story finds the Parsons sisters having a joint celebration at a Tuscan castle! Everyone is coming together for Cat and Jean-Luc's wedding and it just so happens to be a milestone birthday for Sarah.

Told in alternating perspectives between the sisters, we find them excited for these occasions, but also dealing with a few troubling thoughts. Where are the newlyweds going to decide to live, how will they handle difficult family members who don't support their relationship and why is Sarah so hesitant to turn 40? Along the way there is plenty of fiascos that come up while planning the wedding. It had the perfect mix of humor, romance and relatable moments. There's a great overall theme of how good communication is the key to healthy relationships.

I loved that we not only get to see the sisters and their significant others one last time, but all of the friends they have met along their travels are there as well. I was so excited to see one of my favs, Siobhan - loved her update!!! The girl's parents cracked me up numerous times too.

It's always sad when a well loved series comes to an end, but this one was wrapped up in a really sweet way. I would recommend reading these books in order to fully appreciate the development of each character. It makes this gathering extra special too! I'm excited to see what stories and new casts the author introduces us to next!

I really enjoyed this book, even if it turns out to be the final book of five in a series. Barker’s characters are all very likeable and I liked the mix of sun, Italy and love in this heart-warming tale of two sisters.

Meeting Cat and Sarah for the first time in this book, it transpires that whilst they are situated on opposite sides of the globe, they have a very strong relationship. In London, Cat receives a surprise engagement from French boyfriend, Jean-Luc. Their relationship is an odd one because neither has made the commitment to live with each other, hence the long-distant love between France and London. Revealing their news to sister Sarah and her partner, Josh, they are based in Australia and cannot wait to meet up and celebrate. Tuscany becomes this destination as not only is Sarah having a surprise fortieth birthday, but Cat decides she wants to gate-crash this occasion and use this destination for her wedding. It’s a destination wedding but one that allows so many of Cat’s friends and family to reunite at last.

I was really surprised by how far-flung so many of Cat’s relatives and friends are. There are a lot of characters and both Cat and Sarah have a developed history with their nearest and dearest. To be honest, I did struggle to keep track of their different stories and I think this would have been far easier if I had read the previous books first. There are several references to previous adventures between the various characters but this did not really impact my enjoyment of the story. It is definitely still worthy of five stars and I think I would have liked this book even more if I had read the series in order.

At first I thought the story would be dominated by Sarah’s birthday, but in the end it is Cat’s wedding day that drives the plot forwards. I enjoyed how the narrative switched between the two sisters, although I did find their perspectives to be quite similar. Each sister has their own private demons that they are trying to banish in the story. For Sarah, she feels that something is missing from her life and is incredibly conscious of turning forty. However, she cannot gauge what is wrong when she feels happy with her partner, job and her life. On the other hand, Cat is desperately trying to decide where she and Jean-Luc should live after the wedding. But with in-laws from hell, how can she accept Jean-Luc’s proposal of moving to France? It would simply mean being closer to a family she does not feel included by, not to mention the roots she has put down in London. These dilemmas are quite opposing but I appreciated how Barker was able to fuse them into the narrative and I think bring the sisters closer as a result.

This was definitely a sweet, summery read and I loved the Italian setting. It made the whole story feel very relaxed and chilled out, even when several mishaps keep occurring in the build-up to the wedding. It was a destination wedding that was filled with love and memories, and even reminded me of my own special day.

Although I have zero knowledge of the previous books, this did not stop me from enjoying this Italian wedding. I am determined to try and find the other stories in this series because the references to other travels has certainly piqued my interest. Reading this book reminded me of novels by Julie Caplin and if this is a writer that appeals to you, this story should be a winner too.

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great holiday read! The setting sounds wonderful from the descriptions and the story flowed well. Would happily recommend and despite it being part of a set of stories, I thought it was ok to read as a stand alone book x

Charming and romantic, a wonderful summer read that left me with a feeling of warmth and happiness. Great characters, good backdrop, and the story flowed really well.

‘Life’s both short and long. Short enough that you can’t faff about waiting for it to begin and long enough that you can always start fresh, make a different decision, do something else. Is that what’s going on with you? You want to make a big change?’

Sandy Barker is a firm favourite here at GRTL as she always guarantees her readers a great romantic destination getaway. This is book number 5 in her Holiday Romance series - most can be read as a standalone, however, readers' relationships with the characters is certainly enhanced if you have read previous instalments. In this, the final of the series, Sandy brings the ‘gang’ back together for a most fitting finale and tribute.

‘Of course, I know in my heart that forty isn’t old. But it will definitely cement my status as ‘middle-aged’. I half-expect someone to pull me aside and give me a new to-do list, like take out life insurance and get breast scans and start reading those emails from my retirement fund instead of filing them away, unread, and forgetting about them. Those are all things that middle aged people are expected to do, right? You know, proper adulting?’

With a joint celebration - 40th birthday and wedding - planned for sisters Sarah and Cat, a castle in Tuscany is the destination. It’s the opportunity for a reunion with couples from previous books so there is sure to be past memorable reflections along with new events to celebrate. The sisters will make you laugh and they will make you cry but as always, Sandy makes them flawed, funny and real. Sandy is a master at armchair travel and if Tuscany is on your bucket list, then be sure to give this book a go. The sights, sounds and smells come alive through from the shops and cuisine to the castle itself.

‘Here we are in romantic Tuscany, celebrating these incredible milestones with our gorgeous men and we’ve both had massive arguments.’ ‘Love is messy, I suppose.’

This is the book you read for a wonderful getaway. A romantic comedy that has a few mishaps along the way but is certainly full of love and laughter in the long run.

‘Surely, if I can just breathe and enjoy where I am and who’s here with me, then this will be less about a number and more about what makes me happy - Josh, my family and friends, being in a beautiful part of the world. Not to mention good food, good wine.’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This is a fun story about a destination birthday party and wedding in Tuscany for two sisters and their significant others and friends.
The descriptions of the places and the food were excellent!
A great getaway-from-it-all book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I found this book to be very flabby, constantly reiterating the same themes, taking forever to get to a conclusion. The conversational prose was tiresome and awkward. There was not much to the story that was particularly inspiring. About family life comparing a gushing/loving family compared to an uptight family. Plus the difficulties brought on by offspring living in different countries.
A very quick read. With every boyfriend/husband being hot and handsome!

This is a really fun, entertaining read. I haven't read any of the rest of the series so I really did enjoy it as a standalone. The two sisters, Cat and Sarah may live miles apart but you can feel the bond between them. Both girls have something to celebrate, a 40th birthday and a wedding, and decide to spend the time together at a glorious setting in Tuscany. Full of all the gorgeous sights and sounds of Italy, where better to escape to?

There is plenty of humour in the story, both from the plot and from the characters who turn up to help them celebrate. Family plays a huge part, as do the doubts and vulnerabilities which both girls feel at this time. This is an endearing read with a heart-warming tone and romance and affection at its heart. Gorgeous!

In short: Feelgood romance with a few mishaps along the way
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

This is the 5th and final book in Sandy Barker's #HolidayRomance series and ties up the fictional lives of the traveling characters we've come to know in the previous 4 books. A Wedding In Tuscany focuses on Cat and her sister Sarah (whose story kicked off the series) and a visit to Tuscany that will combine Cat's wedding to Jean-Luc and Sarah's milestone 40th birthday. Two such big events also allow for the main and side characters of the other books to be in the same place at the same time and we get to learn about everyone's futures by the closing pages. The pages in between deal with the fun of families at weddings, hard relationship lessons, and life lessons that can hit you out of nowhere. As usual, the author handles these topics with humor, drama, and descriptions of food and places so vivid you'll want to eat all the cheese and visit all the countries. Highly recommended for readers of romance who love feel-good stories and endings.

Thank you to One More Chapter, Sandy Barker, and a NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really love the characters in this series and I think this series is so much fun! I am very sad this is the last one that will be coming out!

I feel like I have read so many stories with travel or moving to another country and this one falls in that category as well! The Italian setting sounds just wonderful and I am going to start my search for a castle to stay in haha.

I love that this one focuses on Cat AND Sarah and two big changes they are going through: a wedding and a big birthday. I can actually relate hardcore to Sarah’s thoughts and feelings as I too have a big birthday this year, so this was perfect timing.

I love the dynamic and diversity of personalities in this one. All the gang is back together and having them together with their loved ones was so much fun and eye opening (it was also a reminder that I haven’t read two of the books in this series and I must get on that!)

I found the emotion in this one hit me in the feels during my reading. I am not one to cry while reading books and I felt myself tearing up a couple of times and just really felt the heart of this story. I’ve always felt that you can tell how invested an author is in their characters and story by how the story flows and how much I love (or hate) the characters in it and to me it feels as though Sandy has out her heart and soul into it. I am so grateful to have come across this story and met these characters and followed along on their journeys. I will miss them all, and keep reminding myself that one of the best part about books is I can read them again and again.

If you haven’t read this series I encourage you to do so. Start at the beginning and read this one at the end. If you do, I hope you love the journey as much as I have.

A Wedding in Tuscany is the perfect romantic escapist read.

A Wedding in Tuscany is the last book in the Holiday Romance series, and while it can be read as a stand-alone; I would recommend you read it as part of the series. I think readers would enjoy this book more if they had read the previous four books. A Wedding in Tuscany was the first book I had read in the series, and Sandy does a wonderful job at bringing readers up to speed when introducing characters and their backstories that I never felt lost. One of the main focuses of this story is all the characters reuniting and celebrating Sarah’s 40th and Cat’s wedding. The geek in me equates it to the final Avengers movie when all the superheroes come together. I would have been more excited to see everyone coming together if I had read the previous books. I didn’t feel that attachment to these characters because I didn’t know them. Don’t get me wrong; I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. Sandy is a fabulous travel romance writer, and I will definitely be picking up her other books to read.

If you are a fan of travelling or reading books about travelling, then you will love this book (and series). All the characters in this book are avid travellers, and it’s an absolute pleasure listening to their adventures. Sandy does a fantastic job at bringing Tuscany to life for her readers. I ate up the food descriptions and the lush descriptions of Tuscany and its people. The story has romance, humour, and drama (oh so delicious drama!). Sandy adds depth to the story by tackling some serious issues related to family relationships, romantic relationships, and ageism.

The characters, both primary and secondary, are all gems! I loved their life stories and listening to how they all met. Their relationships and interactions with each other added so much depth and sweetness to the story. There is really a focus on the importance of family (both blood and found family). Even though Cat and Sarah live on the opposite sides of the world, they are still so close and make an effort to be a part of each other’s lives, even if it’s from afar.

The sisterly bond between Cat and Sarah was written perfectly, and I was laughing when one of the sisters went into protective mode and was ready to do battle to help/protect the other.

This book just oozes romance. Pretty much every character in this book is in a relationship. The love from all those relationships just radiates from the pages of this book. I really can’t decide what couple I love more, Cat and Jean-Luc or Sarah and Josh. The chemistry between these couples is on fire, and there is just enough spice to get my heart racing. I might have swooned a little when Jean-Luc spoke French to Cat. What really stands out with all these relationships is the diversity that Sandy included. It makes it much richer and gives it so much substance.

A Wedding in Tuscany will take you on a gorgeous romantic adventure to the countryside of Tuscany.

Thank you, Harper Collins UK and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The setting for this book is just idyllic and is written with beautiful detail that just draws you in completely. I have not read any of the series until now but it worked well and I thoroughly enjoyed every word. This is just a great read full of love and romance. A bit of pure escapism that takes you off to sunny climbs and beautiful people.

An unexpected proposal sends Cat into a spin of not only joy but panic over where on earth will they live, who will have to give up their home? A duel celebration of a wedding and 40th birthday celebration for Sarah set in a gorgeous Tuscan Castle brings old characters back to the fore. There are dilemmas a plenty and getting to know Sarah and Cat’s parents was a joy. I adored this book completely. Full of great and loving characters that just make you smile. What’s wrong with a bit of fabulous romance and fabulous castles? Nothing at all, that’s what I say. Bring it on. I urge anyone who just needs a pure treat of a book that lifts your heart to get themselves a copy of Sandy Baker’s book and indulge in a few hours of pure joy.

I really enjoyed this book, it was romantic, endearing, had the most beautiful Italian setting and very funny in places.

Sandy has a way with her words that made me feel like I was there sipping the Italian wine in the sunshine in Tuscany. Her writing it’s so easy to read and get lost in. With my love of travel, Sandy is one of my favourite authors for writing books set in beautiful destinations.

My love for Sandy’s books first started from One Summer in Santorini. I say this all the time but I do really want to do what Sarah did in that first book and go on a sailing trip around the Greek islands. I first fell in love with her brave, adventurous spirit then. Further down in the series Sarah is turning 40 and not looking forward to it. Whilst her sister Cat is happy in a relationship, however also worrying about the future.

I loved getting to hear what both of the sisters were up to in life and their friends who we have got to know over the series. They really do have such a lovely sisterly bond and are great characters. Also their parents need a mention as they are brilliant, her dad is super cute and wise, where as her mum is so funny with her sense of humour and one liners. Especially at the art class!

Italy is such a beautiful country and this was captured perfectly. I have definitely added more Italian destinations to my bucket list thanks to this book. The castle setting sounded wonderful and Sarah’s 40th party had a magical setting.

That ending did have me shed a few tears!

I would highly recommend reading this, this summer!

This can be read as a stand-alone as Sandy does get you up to speed on what has happened throughout the other books but I would advise to read the whole series.

After finishing this story I was made aware that it was the last in a series of books. I feel it works well as a stand alone book, I didn’t feel I was missing any information at any point.
The story follows sisters Sarah and Cat as their separated lives come together for a wedding and a big birthday celebration. It brings together friends and family in a warm hearted, lovely read.
You’ll want to read it as one so clear your diary! The author brings the characters and the locations to life as you feel you are their amongst them, sharing their experiences.
A fun, enjoyable read.

I loved this story right from the start! The sisters Cat (Catherine) and Sarah are both easy to love and so are their boyfriends, all their friends and even their parents!

The story is told in first person by both Cat & Sarah in the lead up to and during their week in Tuscany. One is sister is about to turn 40 and one is about to get married. Neither of these big milestones is reached without some drama, but all very realistic and relatable and told in such a way that the reader could feel what the sisters were going through, smiling and welling up with them.

This book is the last in a series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Please don't hesitate... take this trip to Tuscany. You won't regret it!

I was so sad when I heard that this book was going to be the last in this wonderful series but, if it has to end, what a way to go out. What could be a more exciting and romantic read than the whole Holiday Romance gang travelling to Tuscany for a rustic, Italian wedding? There is absolutely nothing I enjoy reading more at this time of year, when I am anticipating my own summer travels, than a beautiful, light-hearted book that combines a trip to a gorgeous, exotic location with a huge dollop of love, and this book has both in spades.

I’m not going to give away who is getting married or what actually happens but, needless to say the path to the altar is bumpy and strewn with pitfalls and calamities, just as you’d expect in the perfect romance novel. I mean, if there are no problems, there’s no story, right? All the things you can imagine that might go wrong when trying to arrange a wedding at a distance occur, and we eagerly ride the rollercoaster to the altar with the bride and groom and their families. On this trip, Sandy takes us via Tuscan castles, vineyards, medieval Tuscan cities, naked Italian gods in human form and… actually I don’t need to say any more do I? I completely had you at ‘naked Italian gods’ and you are definitely going to buy this book now, I know!

Sandy’s books always combine easy, flowing writing with rounded and appealing characters, fully immersive locations where you can smell the lavender and rosemary wafting off the page, and a thrilling plot. The conclusion of the story filled me with all the feels and I think this was the perfect way to round off this wonderful series. Whilst I’ll miss Cat, Sarah, Jaelee, Lou and the rest of the gang immensely, I can say goodbye knowing that they all have achieved their happy ever afters, just as it should be. And, of course, they are all there, waiting patiently on my shelf if I decide I ever want to catch up with them again.

This book is the perfect armchair travel read, and an ideal summer book. I cannot recommend it highly enough and, if you haven’t already read the previous four books in the Holiday Romance series, now is the perfect time to pick one up.

This is the final book in ‘The Holiday Romance’ series. It could technically be read as a standalone, but I wouldn’t recommend it because you NEED to read the series in order if you love armchair travel with delicious romantic liaisons. I highly recommend that you read them in order!

In this final book the focus is on sisters Cat and Sarah. Sarah is approaching her 40th birthday and Cat is planning (with a little help from her friends!) her wedding to the incredibly sexy French man Jean Luc. A joint celebration in Tuscany brings the sisters, their family and friends from all over the world.

The location of the story was idyllic. Sandy Barker is exceptionally talented at creating a world that you can picture so vividly that you feel like you’ve been transported to Tuscany with the other characters.

Both Cat and Sarah are struggling to face up to their issues. Sarah is bothered by the fact that she is turning 40, and she does not want to celebrate it, in spite of her boyfriend Josh organising the trip to Tuscany. She finds it hard to put into words, which in turn worries Josh because he cannot understand what is wrong. Cat is preparing to get married to Jean Luc, but with neither of them prepared to address where they will live after their wedding. Cat loves her career and living in London, and really cannot see herself living in Paris, which is where Jean Luc is based.

It was lovely seeing some very familiar faces arrive in Tuscany for the celebrations, and there are some fun moments, as well as some trickier moments along the way. As sad as I am to see the end of a much loved series, I know that Sandy Barker will have new characters for me to love, and new locations to be transported to, with whatever she writes next, and I am absolutely invested.

What a fabulous ending to the series. I loved how all the characters from the previous books come together for the wedding, uniting both sisters' stories.

A wedding, a beautiful location in Tuscany and scenery and food to die for - what's not to love? There is love and laughter. tears and disappointment and wedding disasters that threaten the big day. None of those compare to the most obnoxious wedding guest ever and yet throughout it all, love will triumph.

A delightful romantic story that will lift your heart.

This gorgeous book brings closure to a wonderful series. Sandy Barker’s skill at creating subtle recaps made me feel like I’d read all the books and not just one. Previous characters are present, and they work well in support of this focus on sisters Sarah and Cat.
There are plenty of giggles and a few last-minute disasters, but they all lead to a wonderful day. I’m trying not to give spoilers and note that the synopsis doesn’t reveal who is getting married, so I shall keep that quiet.

One of my favourite characters in A Sunrise Over Bali was the PR whizz, Jaelee. It took a while for me to warm to her, but she soon had my full attention, so I was thrilled when she reappeared in Tuscany. As joint wedding organiser, it was immediately obvious that, despite her tenuous grasp of the local language, this would be a wedding to remember.
Of course, this book is about more than the wedding as the story looks at the mechanics of relationships, be they familial or friendly. I particularly enjoyed Sarah, Cat and their parents being given the chance to bond again. Their parents were a very welcome addition to the group and added a welcome reminder that life does not end once you reach more senior years. I spent some time on a different continent to my friends and family; I had fun, but ultimately, home is about more than just a location.
This is a worthy conclusion to a series that I sadly missed most of, but it can certainly be read as a standalone story. I will be looking out for this author in the future, I don’t want to be a straggler again. I’ve never visited Tuscany in real life but enjoyed many virtual escapes, this was a corker.