Escaping Valentines Day is a second chance, sweet and tame romance novel with a beautiful setting. I liked the story of Rory and Huck, I like a dual point of view novel that lets me see inside the different characters and I thought Hucks was a little better than Rory’s overall. I loved the side characters and wish I could have had more of them. The ending feels a little abrupt and I would have loved an epilogue.

Rory agreed to be part of a crew to Italy to avoid being alone on Valentine. Being single like her, it is a disappointment day. She has never thought that Huck is also on the same tour as her, the ex who she never over with. Huck walked away from the love of his life to take on a cooking competition which he regretted till today. Being in the together give him hope to fix the past.  
 
This story is about 2nd chance romance for Rory and Huck. Despite being separated for 5 years, it is obvious the attraction between them and I love all the widow’s wise words to both of them. Overall, it is a light read to me.

3.5Stars
This is a second chance for love for Rory and Huck. It is an interesting story but lacks for me a bit more passion and something more. It is a story about celebrating Valentine's Day but with a bit of twist, so the story lacks to me love and romance.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

A sweet (perhaps overly sweet) 2nd chance of Rory and Huck. Set in Italy, which is fun. Predictable, of course, but a easy escape read if you want a light sweet romance. Would recommend.

This was a good book. It was fast-paced and had a good storyline. I like how the author incorporated jobs into this book that is more relatable to people these days, like content creators. From the beginning, I figured out what would happen, but then I started second-guessing when some other people came into the picture, but I won't spoil anything for anyone.

There was so much about this story that was intriguing me when I first read the synopsis. Set in Italy, content creator, cooking competition, Italian prince??!! This book had oh so much potential! And I was very excited to read another book set around Valentine's Day to my TBR.

Unfortunately, I didn't love this like I had hoped. I really enjoyed the second chance romance aspect of this story. Though they had only been apart for a few years, there was still a sense of what used to be and can it be again?

As for the characters, I just couldn't get interested in Rory or Huck's characters. They weren't interesting enough to me, and I didn't see their connection as much as I would have liked. For these reasons, my attention in the book was struggling. And I think this is a major part of why I felt this only deserves the rating I gave it.

Overall, this book was an average, predicable read that just didn't have anything special included.

This was a very enjoyable read! Was it predictable? Yes. Was it overly sweet? Yes. Did it feel realistic? Absolutely not. But these are the things that made it so great! It owned being overly sweet and romantic and leaned in here, rather than trying to prove itself.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

This is this first book by Christi Barth I've read... and to be honest, I just wasn't feeling it. I found my mind wandering as I was reading it- it just wasn't interesting enough to keep my attention! This is the second chance story of Huck and Rory. They unintentionally travel to Italy together and reconnect. The premise of this story has promise but, unfortunately, it just didn't come to fruition. I didn't connect with Rory and Huck or their story. I just recently returned from a trip to Italy and just wasn't feeling it! Maybe I'll give this author another try in the future, maybe not.

A cute story, it was enjoyable for me, but I did not love it. The setting of a tour group going to Italy with a group of widows to “escape” Valentines Day is a good premise, however the 2 main characters, Huck, a chef for the group, and Rory, the content creator were both working for the tour group. They had been friends and lovers who had broken up 5 years before and neither realized they were part of this group. As usual there was a lot of baggage to sort out for both of them before the HEA. I just had a hard time relating to this couple. I usually love Christi Barth’s couples but had couldn’t get into this romance. On the other hand, it was a cute story, and I loved the secondary characters of the widows. They were a hoot and gave much levity to an otherwise fairly somber love affair.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

While this is a part of a series, you don't have to read the prior ones to fully understand and enjoy this one.

This is written in a dual POV format. Getting that glimpse into both of the main characters' thoughts really help me to better understand and connect to them.

Content creator, Rory accompanies her friend Rowen to Italy. Rowen's company is working with a brand new company on the first tour. Rowen invited Rory along to help and to show her that she could do content creating on her own. Rory is hesitate for the time away from work even though she technically will be working on the trip. On the plane, she runs into her former BFF who later became her boyfriend, Huck. Rory is shocked seeing him. He broke her heart five years ago when he left her to seek his fame and fortune as a celebrity chef.

Huck is very apologetic and wants to set things right. Rory on the other hand could care less. That is until they both figure out that they are both working on the same tour!

Can Huck and Rory work out their many issues in 10 days? Can the widows who are "escaping Valentine's Day", be of assistance with their guidance? Will a handsome Italian prince lure Rory away and make her his princess? Well there are more questions and answers abound in this story

This is a sweet, clean romance set in the lush country side of Italy.

Rory and Huck were boyfriend and girlfriend but really more than that. Five years ago Huck walked out on her leaving her for a cooking show without even trying to work out any sort of long-distance relationship or anything just my cooking and my life are more important than you. That is at least the way I took it. Now on a plane to Italy, she meets Huck you have set into motion for Rory to be part of his tour which is also a cooking tour of Italy. Rory is stuck and can not get out of it and though Huck apologizes to me at least I don’t get why now. He realizes he made a mistake but it took him five years and now he gets he to where she can’t leave until the tour is over and she is supposed to be happy. I know most people look at me as quiet but just going off of my youngest daughter she doesn’t give no guy a second chance. But this is a book and the story is different. The writing is good as well as the characters and most will probably like this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the Arc of this book.

This closed door, second chance Romance is about Rory and Huck, who grew up together as best friends, later fell in love, and then just as suddenly lost each other.

Five years later, they’ve each, unbeknownst to either of them, embarked on a ten day trip to Italy to “escape Valentine’s Day” and further their prospective careers.

I enjoyed this book. The gorgeous descriptions of Italy, it’s food and wine, and the absolutely delightful supporting characters added a lot to a wonderful romance. I’ll be looking for more books by this author.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that I am a sucker for second chance romances. For some reason I wasn't feeling this one. I really didn't feel the chemistry between Rory and Huck at all. Or even a connection. I really had a hard time staying focused and I had to push myself to finish the book.

Saying all this I really love this author and have read other books by her so I would definitely pick up other stories from her.

I like second chance romance stories. They usually have plenty of conflict and great circumstances. In this story from Christi Barth, Rory has spent the last few Valentine's Days alone. To forget what she doesn't have, she signs up for a singles tour of Italy. All is good until she discovers Huck, her ex, the one who broke her heart, is working as a chef in the tour group.

In spite of a bit of a slow start, I liked these two characters and their journey back to each other. There's lots for them to work out as they move forward. This is a sweet second chance love where the location and setting play a significant part in the story. It left me feeling happy, and it captured the spirit of Valentine's Day very well.

Escaping Valentine’s Day
By: Christi Barth

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Sweet second chances

In this sweet second chance Book we are brought into Rory and Huck’s past, present and not so sure future. The book has so much back and forth I wasn’t always sure which way was up. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: Content creator Rory Hibbert knows Valentine’s Day is only fun for couples and chocolatiers. For singles like her, it’s a day of disappointment. And that’s why her new marketing agency client has arranged a tour of Italy crammed full of activities to distract from the holiday. This trip is a test for Rory if it goes well, it will jump-start her new social media career.

There’s just one snag: the ex she never got over is also on staff.

Huck Cranshaw walked away from the love of his life for a huge opportunity on a cooking competition show. At least, that’s the excuse he gave Rory at the time and he’s regretted it for five years. Cooking for tourists was supposed to be a stopgap between restaurant positions. Now it could be much, much more: a chance to fix the past.

But when an Italian prince catches sight of Rory, Huck’s not the only one vying for her heart this time. Can Cupid still steal Rory’s heart when the truth finally comes out?

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

This took a little bit for me to get into, but I kept reading and definitely enjoyed it. This is a sweet, second chance romance--my favorite trope. I liked the connection between Rory and Huck. The premise was cute. Loved the setting. Loved the Valentines day theme. Four stars. Big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I like the premise. Second chance romance is usually good for me, as long as it hasn’t been too long in between. Rory and Huck had been apart for 5 years, when the story begins, so that wasn’t too long for me. That’s about where my like of this story ended.
Rory and Huck were each likeable on their own. Rory is determined to strike out on her own and Huck is a sexy chef with a good sense of humor. They just didn’t have any chemistry. They both thought the right things about each other during their inner monologues but neither one made me believe it when interacting. I just didn’t feel a connection to either character.
It was a little tough to get through, even throwing a prince into the mix.
3 stars.

Escaping Valentine's Day was a cure story of two star-crossed lovers. The main characters were Rory and Huck. They'd been in a relationship that had ended five years ago when Huck walked away from Rory without looking back. So Rory set out for Italy with her friend Rowan and a tour group of widows on an escaping Valentine's Day trip. Rory's job was to document the whole trip on video and photos. Huck was a chef and he was on the trip to cook for them. Neither knew the other was coming.

Huck desperately wanted Rory back but she was still very angry with him for what he's done, how badly he'd broken her heart. The whole book was about the twists and turns in his attempts to find his way back to her, and her getting past the anger.

There was a prince, Nic, who fancied Rory. He eventually wanted her to move to Italy to explore the possibility of a relationship. Huck's friend Keisha wanted him to go back to San Francisco to the restaurant he left to work for her. The gig came with his own television show. It was the perfect opportunity for him, but somehow it didn't feel right.

While Huck was pining away over Rory, she kept her walls up to avoid yet more pain. It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs. I'll not spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that it was a heartwarming story. It seemed that Rory would never give in. And why should she when she had been so devastated? It was a good read. Good enough for book club. I'd read it again. I gave it five stars.

Second chance romance, beautiful setting, but slow paced. It wasn't until about Chapter 10 when I finally started to get into this story. I'm all for alternating POV but in the beginning, I was extremely confused who was talking. It took some time for me to connect with the characters but I adored the widows. I do think the storyline was predictable but sometimes that's all you need to feel good. A few twists and turns were there but not as out there as I enjoy. Overall, it was a good read with a holiday theme.

Second chance romance is my favorite troupe- this one wasn’t for me. I didn’t get into the story, characters, any of it- very hard read for me to finish.