I enjoyed this book, it was not great but it was good. It fits into the Under the Tuscan Sun genre, which has probably been exhausted at this point. Basically girl inherits Tuscan villa from a relative she didn’t know and must stay in Italy for a specific time period in order to receive the full inheritance. She of course doesn’t want it and only wants to deal with the sale and go home. But of course there is a handsome Italian man who she initially isn’t sure she likes but ultimately, well you know, falls in love with. The writing is very good, dialogue flows along nicely and the characters are easy to get to know. The ending was quite creative and not something I anticipated.

Overall, a fun, quick read. A little predictable but enjoyable.

All opinions are my own and not influenced by the electronic ARC I received from the publisher, through NetGalley.

I want to go there! Gudrun Cullio describes the vineyards in Casalvento in such a way that it took great restraint not to book a flight to experience the environment myself. When Erika Germoglio learns that an unknown relative has left her property in Tuscany, she sees it as a burden. She travels overseas to settle the estate quickly and efficiently, but the specifics of her grandfather's will requires her to slow down and get to know the land before she can take ownership. Erika's eyes are opened to the beauty of the area and soon she realizes that the life she had been living was not as wonderful as she had convinced herself. The ease of her transition to a vineyard owner is shocking and I kept waiting for something to go horribly wrong, but this love story is almost a fairy tale and a joy to read.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. Erica was very hard to like. At time she would try to come across as in charge and it was actually rude, and then at other times she seemed incapable of making decisions. The conversations and dialogue didn’t flow naturally and seemed too stilted. I also didn’t really love the twist ending. The book was kind of Hallmark, very surface level/contrived drama and completely predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Green Leaf Group Book Press for the ARC.

🍇🌄🍷Great setting but lacked something🤔

3.5🌟 stars
I found the beginning of this story good and it inspired me to want more, but as it went on the shine wore off as Erika, the American businesswoman who inherits an Italian winemaking estate in Tuscany, polishes off so many bottles of wine I feared her vineyard reserves would be totally emptied before the year was out! I did not particularly sympathize with Erika early on; she seemed a bit of a snob and cold. She transformed into a more likable and open personality throughout the course of her stay in Tuscany, but I think by the end she was a bit too perfect?!

The narrative was a bit drawn out. You could tell the author loves the arts of winemaking and Italian cooking, and the recipes at the end were a nice touch, but I found all the details made my eyes glaze over at times. I liked the concept of this story more than the actual execution. For a reader who likes sweet, slow-build romance with a little foreign travel thrown in, this would probably be right up their alley though the romance is not the novel's main focus.

I thought the author's end note about her own Italian experience was more interesting than the book's ending, which was a bit rushed and too perfectly tied up.

Thanks to the author, Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, give me a book about Italy and I'm SOLD. Casalvento was no exception - I was instantly swept up in the story & felt like I was back in Tuscany reading this one! I loved Erika's journey to learning more about her family (and herself in the process) and it had the perfect touch of romance. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick getaway!

Unusual story, well written. I was quite surprised at the end, was not expecting the plot twist. Good character development. Would recommend to a friend, and will read this author again,

This book was a slow burn that takes you from New York to the hills of Tuscany. Erika is happy with her life in New York. She is engaged to her long-time boyfriend and has a successful career. All of this is upended when she finds out her grandfather, who she never met, left her a vineyard estate in Italy. Erika goes to Italy with the intent to sell it, but is soon under the spell of Italy and the people who work at the estate. The longer she stays in Italy, she finds her life in New York wasn’t what it seems. Her fiancée cheats on her with her business partner. The book features rich descriptions of the land, the wine, and the food. I felt like I was there. There is a twist toward the end, which I guessed around the halfway prt of the book. It didn’t prevent me from enjoying the ending.

A wonderful story of family, known and unknown, discovery, personal growth, letting go of what you always thought you knew and wanted to let in something new. Erika receives a surprise inheritance from a grandfather she never met. Of course there are specific and to her, seemingly difficult choices to make for one, the requirement she stay in Italy for 5 months and learn how to run both of the properties from top to bottom. Unsure of what to do she heads back home only to have her decision to become crystal clear. Italy is a go! While there she works with Paolo to learn all there is to know about running a winery and bed and breakfast. What a difference a few months can make in a life. Change can be daunting, but the rewards can be invaluable. A beautifully written story that really takes us to Tuscany and a wonderful cast of characters.

I enjoyed this book and the descriptive way the author described the Italian countryside. II could just see it in my head the way she described it and the wines. Good book. Light read.

I so wanted to love this book! The story idea is great, but the execution is severely lacking. It feels like the author did a lot of research and probably traveled in Tuscany, as the descriptions are on point, but the writing itself is elementary, stilted and shallow. While there is a lot of wine, winery and wine blend information, it’s inserted awkwardly into constrained conversations and narrative. I was hoping the characters and story would go deeper and become more authentic and detailed as it went along, but it stayed on the surface, was a bit hokey and I remained disappointed.

What a wonderful feel good story. Great landscapes, good characters and an unexpected inheritance. I enjoyed the story, loved the slow burn of the romance and the food made me drool.

I knew from the start that I was going to love this story, from the mysterious inheritance to the first day Erika views her grandfathers vineyard I was in love wth the discription of the region and all the the people dedicated to the vineyard. I loved the discription of the food and the family gatherings. I loved the festivals and beautiful landscape that surrounded Casalvento and how it not only made Erika aware of how enrich her life had become but how shallow her life was in the states. I loved how she share her love of Italy with her friends Todd and James and how much fun they had too, but the best part is a BIG surprise at the end that made me feel all warm and happy and made the story perfect.


I want to thank Greenleaf Book Group, Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book that made me wish I could be in Italy.

Erika Germoglio is a self-made woman. She has a wonderful job that she loves and a fiancé that she loves and wants to make a life with. Suddenly, she inherits a vineyard & estate in Tuscany when her Grandfather dies. She learns that she must live and learn about the estates for 5 months before she can sell or keep them. Will she uproot her life and go to Tuscany or will she forfeit everything and stay where she is?

As a successful businesswoman in a long-term relationship, Erika was ready for the next natural step in her life, to marry her fiance. But that all goes haywire when she learns that she's inherited a vineyard in Tuscany. Forced to drop everything and head to Italy to meet with the lawyer, she discovers that her missing grandfather had bee living in Radda ever since he abandoned his family when her father was a little boy.

Compelled to stay in Italy for five months before she can inherit the properties her grandfather has left her, she begins a journey of self-discovery. The more she learns about her grandfather and his life, the more she learns about herself and what she wants out of life.

This was a wonderful story that included a sweet slow-burn romance. The locale, friendships, and self-discovery were enjoyable to read about. But I was very disappointed with the ending. To me, it undermined the whole story.

Thank you to Gudrun Cuillo, Greenleaf Book Group, and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

I loved everything about this book except for the last two chapters. For me, this book was absolute perfection from the main character, who left her life in Italy for a chance at connecting with a family she never knew to the descriptions of the lush Italian vineyard where most of the book takes place. I loved the atmosphere and the found family Erika finds in her deceased grandfather's vineyard; everyone she meets is absolutely charming and pure in every sense. I really enjoyed reading about Erika's journey of finding herself and happiness throughout her journey of learning about Italy and her grandfather's life.
My only issue with this book was the last two chapters which were highly rushed. I enjoyed the care and subtleness of the relationship between Erika and Paolo, a farmer who worked closely with Erika's grandfather; their relationship grew so naturally and sweetly that it made the final couple of chapters that much more jarring.
I recommend this clean, adult romance for anyone looking for a sweet story with interesting characters and a bit of taking a chance on a single phone call.

TW: Parental death, Infidelity, mild paranoia

Erika is settled into her life. She has a successful company, a fiancé, and a busy life in NYC. She receives a letter from a lawyer in Tuscany letting her know that her grandfather has passed away and left his winery to her. She had no knowledge of her grandfather’s existence. She heads to Italy with the intention of selling the winery and getting back to her life. Things don’t start off as she planned. There is a stipulation in the will that she must live there for five months before selling the property. This does not go over well with her fiancé, who seems to be very selfish. Erika begins to make changes in the winery, focusing on efficiency and marketing. As she goes through this process, she begins to see herself in a different light. The characters are well developed and interesting. I found this book a wonderful story of personal growth set in a backdrop of the lovely Tuscany region.

Also reviewed on B&N under 1IrishEyes430 and Kobo under IrishEyes430

Gudrun Cuillo's Casalvento: House of the Wind transports readers to gorgeous Tuscany for a romantic adventure filled with family mysteries. Erika Germoglio, a successful and accomplished lady, unintentionally inherits Livernano, a picturesque mediaeval village turned bed & breakfast, as well as Casalvento, a mansion and vineyard.

Erika meets Paolo, the astute, kind, and stunningly handsome estate manager and winemaker of Casalvento, as she travels to Italy to collect her inheritance. Erika must spend five months in Tuscany working on the estates as part of the inheritance's requirement that she lives there. Erika is forced to choose if she should leave her life in New York and seize the opportunities and challenges that Italy has to offer as a result of this choice.

Erika struggles with the decision of whether to choose her existing life or the temptation of a fresh start while surrounded by romantic vineyards and ancient settings. She also has to deal with her fiancé's unexpected reactions, the mysteries contained in a collection of letters left by her late grandfather, and her feelings every time she comes into contact with Paolo.

Cuillo does an excellent job of capturing the colourful spirit of Tuscany, as well as the breathtaking scenery and the extensive winemaking traditions. Readers can experience the sights, smells, and tastes of the Italian countryside by entering Casalvento through the author's meticulous attention to detail and descriptive writing style.

With their own complexity and unique paths, the characters in Casalvento are well-rounded and relatable. Erika's inner conflict, split between obligation and the quest for happiness, gives her character depth, and Paolo's charm and enthusiasm for winemaking make him an alluring potential love interest. Readers who love suspenseful, absorbing romance novels with a hint of mystery will adore Casalvento. Readers who enjoy Gudrun Cuillo's portrayal of love, family, and self-discovery against the picturesque backdrop of Tuscany will be inspired to travel to Italy themselves. This novel will enthral you and serve as a reminder of the transformative power of love and the enchantment that exists within the region of Tuscany, whether you enjoy romance or simply enjoy the charm of that region.

Fans of mystery and romance will find "Casalvento" to be a gripping and delightful read that will take them to a world of intrigue and passion. Gudrun Cuillo's book delivers a delightful voyage through the allure and secrets of Casalvento with its evocative prose, compelling characters, and complex plot.

Erika Germoglio has her whole life figured out. She is a successful businesswoman and lives in NYC and is engaged to her boyfriend, Craig Bernhardt, whom she plans to marry soon. She learns that she had a grandfather, whom she never meet and left her two estates and a winery in Tuscany. Erika decides to go to Italy to appraise and sell both properties, but she quickly learns that her inheritance comes with one condition; she must stay in Tuscany for five months to learn more about Casalvento and Livernano, as well as the local culture, people, food, and her grandfather. Despite the changes and obstacles that pop up she is blown away every day at how beautiful Italy and how much happier she is there. There is strong chemistry between Erika and Paolo, but in a way, it makes sense as Paolo was a bit emotionally guarded at first because of his past experiences.

OMG give me this setting. Any time of year. All year long. I. Am. in.

I loved this so much. I felt like I was swept away into a beautiful setting with sweeping story lines and characters that just captured my heart.

Thank-you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of Casalvento by Gudrun Cuillo in return for my honest review.

Casalvento has an interesting premise, a lucrative inheritance from a grandfather, never met, has the main character uprooting her life to move to Italy for 5 months. I like these novels that take the reader to a beautiful setting. It is a bit predictable, a little Hallmark-ish, but enjoyable nonetheless. 3.5 stars