Review: Wine, Romance, Music, Italy! Did I Mention a Tall, Dark Hottie?
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2014
I highly recommend Aubrie Dionne's book "An American Girl in Italy" for a summer read. It's light, breezy, and filled with the kind of optimism that pairs perfectly with sunshine. That said, I would have liked reading this book cozied up in front of the fire, because the sweet romance filled me with a satisfied warmth.I was attracted to "An American Girl in Italy" based on the great cover and the blurb, and I got the reward I was promised. The cover reeled me in with it's hint at a sexy romp, a youthful romance, and an exotic local and backdrop. The blurb told me the story would involve music and Italy, two subjects that always get my attention. As a young woman, I not only played clarinet in an orchestra, I studied abroad in Italy. I also fell in love. Often. And once with a attractive Italian man. In short, it feels like this book was written to order for me!Carly, the oboe-playing heroine of the book, is interesting and likable. I enjoy the fact that she isn't one-dimensional. She can be rude at times, focused to the point of having on blinders where her career is concerned, and she makes mistakes. Her mistakes range from ticking off her rich and influential aria partner, to being distracted during important performances, to making wrong assumptions in the "affairs of the heart" department. She's not a dummy, Carly. She's a young woman without a lot of practical experience in the world, and she's making the best choices she can. Following a young woman's journey of self-discovery never gets old for me, and Carly's grappling with what's truly important in love and work kept me hooked.Carly lands in Italy irritated with the disruption the work trip is causing her career. As anyone who's ever traveled for business knows, it's not a vacation. This is Carly's firm attitude, and she barely looks up from her phone in order to witness the breathtaking views around her. Her eye is on the prize; making money and keeping connections in the world of performance-for-pay. When she does bother to look up, however, she's handsomely rewarded (and I do mean handsomely) by the sight of tour guide Michaelangelo Ricci. Gorgeous, with a knife-sharp wit, he is a gentleman with old-world manners who treats elderly women and young maidens with the same kind of care and attention. As a reader and a woman, I really appreciated that. Further to the point, when the author draws a picture of his relationship with his mother, my heart was well and truly stolen.Carly and Michaelangelo chafe off of one another at first, but each feels the magnetism that comes from lust restrained in the service of good manners and sanity. Sparks fly, and arguments ensue with that delicious undercurrent of desire that happens when the external voice says, "I hate you," but the internal voice says, "Not only do I want you, I could possibly love you." Sure, it's an old trope, but I never tire of it. It's what I sign up for each time I watch an excellent Rom Com movie or pick up a romantic read with a bit of an edge. I'd be disappointed it the author didn't deliver on the promise. Dionne delivers.In addition to the wonderful world of Italy's cafes and countryside, I enjoyed characters. Rounding out the cast are well-drawn deck-stackers and comic-relief providers such as a ball cap wearing "ugly American" musician with a heart of gold, a blue-haired emo girl who betrays her seeming two-dimensionality by demonstrating a knowledge of Italian history, a "Devil-wears-Prada"-style orchestra director with a secret up her sleeve, and Carly's BFF whose own development from girl to woman is explored.The love story in this book contains enough heart for readers of any genre, from sweet to sizzling. If you prefer the steamy stuff to be behind closed doors, and for your characters to either be moral or get their comeuppance, than this book will be right up your street. It's a book you could share with your mom and grandma, but I never noticed the author "trying" to be clean in a muscular way. it's just her voice, and her voice works perfectly for the story much in the same way that Jerry Seinfeld is funny and clean, but you'd never notice him trying to stay clean in a muscular way. You just notice he's funny, like I noticed this was a great romantic read.I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.