Friday 14 August 2015

HI Readathon: From Italy with Love by Jules Wake

Home-loving Laurie thinks she’s happy – she has a safe, reliable boyfriend and working in her local library is what she thought she always wanted. That is until she inherits a vintage Ferrari from her eccentric Uncle Miles and the conditions of the inheritance are far from simple. To keep the car Laurie will have to drive across Europe with the gorgeous but unreliable Cameron Matthews as her guide… and Cam’s motives for helping are not all that altruistic.

Cam isn’t particularly thrilled about escorting his late pal Miles’ dull mouse of a niece on this wild goose chase but all he has to do is get Laurie safely to Italy and he’s sure the Ferrari is his.

But Uncle Miles had a few tricks up his sleeve and the route he’s planned takes Cam and Laurie on a road trip they’ll never forget. From sampling the delights of the Loire Valley to the breathtaking beauty of Lake Garda, this is one journey that has more twists and turns than either of them could ever have imagined…

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From the opening chapter which sees reserved Laurie attending the funeral of her eccentric uncle Miles, I knew I was in for an entertaining read when she and the stranger sat next to her, Cam, fight sniggers at the interesting music choice chosen by Miles for his funeral.  Their paths then cross again at the reading of Miles' will when it is disclosed that not only had Miles left Laurie his beloved Ferrari but he'd also set her a mission to drive the car through Europe, with Cam accompanying her, on a designated route eventually finishing at the Ferrari factory in Italy where the car was built.  Needless to say her boyfriend Robert is not overly impressed with the idea of her travelling with the handsome Cam but that's not the only issue Laurie has to worry about... 

The two leading men in this novel couldn't be more different if they tried, Robert was your typical uptight mummy's boy who liked everything done his way and sulked if it didn't, to the charming bachelor Cam who has lived a love them or live them lifestyle since his divorce who clearly has his own motives for agreeing to Miles' plan.  

As for Laurie I found myself wanting to shake her to begin with for being a bit of a doormat and accepting everything Robert said or did even agreeing to something she knew she didn't want, but during the road trip she really comes into her own and finally stands on her own two feet for the first time in her life.

Even though we never get to meet Miles, you can tell that he was a fun-loving, highly respected and well-loved person judging by the many that attended his funeral especially all of his ex-wives who he had remained friends with. And it's clear that he loved Laurie like a daughter and that there was a reason behind the planned trip even though Laurie doesn't realise it. 

I loved following Laurie and Cam on their journey, and how they dealt with all the situations and dramas that ensued, so I definitely saved the best for my last read for this HI Readathon fortnight as thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this delightful story which sees Laurie blossom as she contemplates where her life is heading and her relationships with her boyfriend and family during the road trip.  

I'd like to thank Harper Impulse for my review copy of From Italy with Love which I received via NetGalley.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for the lovely review Sharon. Glad you enjoyed it. I rather miss Cam & Laurie

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