When I pick up a Sue Moorcroft book, I always know I’m in for a treat. An Italian Island Summer whisked me away to sunny Sicily, a place I now long to visit. Sun and sea, a beautiful old town, ancient ruins, Italian food and gelato – it all sounded blissful! The heroine Ursula has had a lot of upheaval in her life recently – her marriage failed, her boss at the tattoo parlour where she worked decided to close, and the lease on her flat in Brighton is about to expire. Tired of it all, she takes a chance on a summer job in Sicily. In exchange for room and board, she works in a boutique hotel in the mornings, while in the afternoons she is free to learn about painting ceramics. It seems like an ideal set-up, and she is happy and gets on really well with the family who owns the hotel … all except the son, Alfio.
He's given up a cushy job and his life in Barcelona in order to help his mother, who has just gone through a tough operation. His sister, who is a single parent with a sick child, also needs his help. Or so he thinks. However, when he arrives, he finds Ursula doing all the tasks he’d thought he was needed for, which irritates him no end. She, of course, is not impressed with his grumpy attitude. But slowly they get to know each other better and start to see things differently. I loved the slow-burn romance between these two – the chemistry is delicious!
But there are misunderstandings and secrets just waiting to come to light, so all is not plain sailing. Alfio has some tough decisions to make, while Ursula needs to learn to trust again, as well as to stand up for herself. The story is as warm and wonderful as an Italian summer night and I stayed up way too late in order to finish it. Loved every moment!

This book is about Ursula who is one of the minor characters from Under the Italian Sun. She has wondered what to do with herself as she emerges from a traumatic event which has ended in the breakdown of her marriage and having no place to live and no job.
Her parents and siblings live in Ireland so that's where she returns to from England. Her parents have just reunited after separating for a while and Ursula would rather not be around the newly united couple.
Her uncle suggests she go to Sicily to help out a family he knows who are having a hard time running their small hotel as the owner has been unwell. In return she can have her board and food which gives Ursula time to look for a ceramics course which she has expressed an interest in.
There's nothing more I can tell you about the story as I don't want to spoil it for you.
Needless to say it's another winner from Sue Moorcroft. Full of wonderful descriptions of Italian villages, sunsets and wonderful nights sipping wine with loved ones.
I love these books that transport me away from the rainy UK to sunny Italy or Sicily in this one.
Love, families, second chances and romances with an Italian backdrop. What more do you need. ?

I have read a few of Sue Moorcrofts books before so was looking forward to starting An Italian island summer. This book can be read as a standalone book however some of the characters have been in a previous book.
The story focuses on Ursula as she travels to Sicily to learn ceramics. She is a likeable character and has had some hard times which she has to deal with.
This was a lovely feel good summer romantic story and as with Sue’s other novels you feel like you are right there with the characters and I could almost feel the sun on my shoulders. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books Uk and Sue Moorcroft for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Another brilliant book from a reliable author. Sue Moorcroft is able to transport the reader to the countries in question and there you are able to get a front row seat! Beautiful Sicily is the destination and Sue gives the reader an insight into the beautiful surroundings whilst taking you on Ursula’s journey. I never like to give spoilers as every reader deserves to enjoy this read as much as I did. All I will say, is that if you miss this book, you will regret it. Follow Ursula and her family’s ups and downs and your visit to Sicily will not be wasted.

I've been a fan of Sue Moorcroft's for years now and was so pleased when this new book, 'An Italian Island Summer' landed in my laps. As always, Sue doesn't shy away from telling a romance with added grit. Ursula is coming out of a bad marriage and her family believes she's a lot more 'vulnerable' than she believes she is, for reasons I'll let you find out. In need of a change of scenery as well as of job, she plans on going off to Italy to learn about ceramic decoration.
Unbeknownst to her, her uncle connives to get her to go to Sicily instead which means she learns from the best in the business, though she finds herself unwittingly smack in the middle of a family mess.
And that's all I'm going to tell you about the story, expect that we meet up with characters from one of Sue's previous books, 'Under the Italian Sun', from 2021.
Sue is a masterful storyteller and with 'An Italian Island Summer', I felt myself literally transported across to Sicily. Full of wonderfully drawn characters, this is a terrific addition to anyone's library, it certainly is to mine.
My thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the reading copy.

An Italian Island Summer is another delightful summer read set mainly during the heat of a Sicilian summer. The story continues with some of the characters we met in Under the Italian Sun that was first published in 2021, although it can be read as a standalone.
Ursula Quinn decides to leave England after her marriage falls apart and arrives in Ireland, her family home, where she is welcomed with open arms. However, Ursula wants to pursue her dreams of studying ceramics so when an opportunity arises to help in a family hotel in exchange for free accommodation and food she researches a tutor nearby that fits in perfectly.
The Tregali family are most welcoming except for the son Alfio who has arrived from Barcelona to help share the responsibilities of running the hotel. As they all settle into getting on with their daily lives tensions, past events and decisions have to be resolved.
I enjoyed this novel as it followed with past characters and new ones. The setting of the Sicilian Island was most welcome especially as I read it during the cold wet early springtime.
My thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the advanced digital copy of this book.

“An Italian Island Summer” is the story of Ursula who moves to a island in Sicily to find peace after a difficult marriage break up and a new start learning how to transfer her artistic skills into ceramics.

I loved reading this book. The chapters are written in the third person as we experience life in beautiful Ortigia through Ursula and the owner of the small hotel Ursula is working at, Alfio. The descriptions of the area whisk you away to a sunnier climate, chasing away worries and the potential monotony of daily life and helping the reader to relax into the story, just as Ursula begins to heal from her hurt and tries to become a strong independent woman again.

Ursula’s best friend Zia appears in an earlier novel by the same author. Zia’s happy ever after might be a spoiler from her own story that can be found in “Under the Italian Sun” but this did not detract from reading the book as stand alone and I would happily go backwards as the feel good nature of books by Sue Moorcroft still exist, even if you know about the happy ever after. If there are hints or characters I feel go well together I start guessing early on about the romance & endings when reading this genre anyway - it’s part of the joy of reading.

The developing storyline both in Ursula’s hometown in Ireland and in Ortigia both focus on relationships how hidden secrets and obsessions can lead to mistrust and deception. The romance in the story is there but it isn’t initially evident. I was certainly hoping for some romance as soon as it became clear the characters were open to a dalliance. I was not disappointed. I smiled, laughed and cried throughout the book and thoroughly recommend that you take a trip to Ortigia with Ursula, to witness the joys and sunshine her new beginnings involve.

With many thanks to the publisher Avon books and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this absorbing book.

What a charming story this was. I quickly became involved in the storyline and the characters; always the sign of a good book. It is well written and the story flowed really well, making it hard to put down.

When Ursula needs to get away after her world falls apart and she is offered the chance of going to Sicily to help in a hotel while pursuing ceramic painting, she jumps at the chance. I loved Ursula's character, she is so kind and despite all the setbacks, she is a very positive person. I loved the Tringali family too, all three of them brought something to the story, especially Alfio, the recently returned son.

With plenty of plot twists, this story was a great read, perfect for summer days and some escapism to a sun-drenched land. I would definitely recommend this story to all romance story lovers.

Free courtesy of Netgalley
Sue Moorcroft is one of my favourite authors, so I am always going to jump at the chance to pre read one of her new books. This book is beautiful, set between Brighton, Ireland and Sicily, you feel like your really in these places, so much so I've began looking for holidays in Sicily.

After the collapse of her Marriage, Ursula leaves Brighton and goes home to her family in Ireland, where she discovers that her parents are giving their Marriage another go after being separated for a year. She questions if this is a good idea, but is hoping it works out, whilst there she discusses moving to Italy to be near her best friend, and starting a ceramics painting course. Her Uncle intervenes by setting her up with an Italian family in Sicily who needs help in the hotel they run, she agrees to work for them in the mornings for free board and lodge and attend a course in the afternoons.

After she has moved there she gets to meet Alfio the son of the family she is staying with, he is really annoyed that she is there, as he has given up his job, home and girlfriend to rush home to help his mum and sister, and there are secrets they all know that Ursula doesn't.

The book is well written and takes in the culture of Sicily and the complications of relationships. I did not want this book to end and I strongly recommend that you buy it, and you will also be looking for holidays in Sicily 😀

The transportation to Sicily was appreciated. The story was well written and loved the romance that is being created. You can just imagine being part of it.

I found this such an easy read and difficult to put down once I’d started. I enjoyed the characters and the links to a previous book. The ending wrapped up the story very well although I didn’t guess what was going to happen until just before the end.

Loved following Ursula on her journey to Sicily. Great escapism, especially trying to escape thos current dreadful weather.

Another lovely story by Sue Moorcroft. A fantastic plot full of emotion, wonderful characters, and descriptive scenery.

The main character Ursula was a minor character in one of this author’s previous books, and she graciously considered the idea to give Ursula her own story when readers requested it! How nice is that!

I loved getting to know Ursula more and was a cheerleader for her as she struggled from the person she had become due to a series of unfortunate situations (a crime against her and a unsupportive spouse to name two), to a stronger version of herself in the end. This is a story of a woman finding herself again and immerging stronger.

Alfio is also in the same place in his life. He is trying to reconcile the goals he made for himself, with where he finds himself in his life at the moment and can’t decide what future he really wants. When these two, Ursula and Alfio meet, fate has given them the opportunity to explore a future neither were considering before.

I enjoyed this book so much. I always love to travel to places in Ms. Moorcroft’s books that I will never be in person. She always makes me feel like I am there. Her characters become people I care deeply about and am sad to leave their lives at the end of the books.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Italy, Sue Moorcroft, what more could you need to be transported?
As always, the story is written beautiful worh the most complex character's you really root for.
The story madr you feel like you were in the Italian sunshine than surrounded busy snowy wet mountains of home.

An Italian Island Summer - Sue Moorcroft

This was the perfect read to make me forget about the cold outside and transport myself to summer in beautiful Sicily. Embarrassingly, this is the first Sue Moorcroft book I've read, although I'm hoping to make a start on her back catalogue now I know how good they are!!

In this book, we follow the story of Ursula, who has gone through some recent tough times and who needs a new start. She's given the opportunity to work and stay in a charming B&B in Sicily, with a mother and daughter who desperately needs her help. It also gives her the perfect chance to learn more about ceramics, a passion of hers, in the nearby town. When the owner's son, Alfio, turns up to help, he's a little put out that Ursula is already there helping. However, they soon put their differences aside in order to help the B&B run smoothly and to take the pressure of the others, who are dealing with their own issues.

This is such a charming book, as we see the family take in Ursula, and in turn she comes to care for them too. There are a couple of twists along the way, but in essensce, this is just a beautiful, feel-good, romance book. 💕

I found it an easy read and very much a page turner! My favourite books are those which take you somewhere else, and this one certainly did.

Thank you so much to Sue Moorcroft, Avon Books UK, and Netgalley for the arc of this book. 💕

This was a really enjoyable gentle read, I definitely felt transported to Sicily! I liked the characters and thought they worked well together and loved the difference between the Irish family and the Italian one. I did feel it dragged a bit towards the end but didn’t spoil the book, overall I would highly recommend it x

Sue always knows how to write a really wonderful story. It's romantic and absolutely drags you into the middle of the story. The characters are wonderful and it has a lovely romantic storyline. I absolutely felt that I was back in Sicily, with the wonderful food, the gorgeous smells, the sea, the breeze, the sunshine, the happiness the cobbled streets the history. Loved it.

I just love Sue’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. I really thought I was back in Sicily.
Ursula has had major problems in her personal life in Brighton resulting in a divorce and she is given a way out by going to help out in a hotel on an island off Sicily. She can also carry on her ceramic career. Her parents have been going through their own problems but seem to have got back on track. The hotel has not been updated for years with no lift and Ursula's room is right at the top in what used to be the owners son, Alfio’s, room. Little does anyone know he was coming home. Romance ensues or does it? Ursula’s father turns up. She goes back to Ireland. Alfio had gone to Barcelona for a new better job, or had he? I loved the complexities and the tooing and froing. And it made me cry Always a sign of a good book

A really enjoyable read from Sue Moorcroft, perfect for the beach (preferably one in Sicily!) while sipping a cocktail and eating olives from a beautifully decorated ceramic dish…….. I liked all of the characters, particularly Agata, Ursula (which as an aside was my grandmother’s name) and Alfio. I got a little confused with the amount of names at times - particularly Ursula’s family - but I think this is a problem with reading on a kindle when it’s difficult to flick back to remind yourself who people are, however as most of the story revolves around Sicily and the five characters there it wasn’t too much of a problem.

Omgosh I loved this book.
As you read it you can feel the sun and warm air.
I loved how slowly the story unfolded and how it ended just right. It makes you believe in love and happy endings.
Sue is an amazing writer when ever I read any of her books I'm transported to the places. I think this is my new favourite of hers.