A Venice Summer by Lynne Shelby

ABOUT THE BOOK

Art conservator Rose Bennet is still reeling from a bad break-up when she is offered a dream job in Venice, restoring an art collection in the Ca’ D’Ambra, a five-hundred-year-old Venetian palazzo. Despite her fears about travelling to a foreign country on her own, Rose is soon heading to Italy for the summer.

While she is awestruck by the breathtaking beauty of Venice, Rose finds the owner of the palazzo, the arrogant and short-tempered Luca Casserini, insufferable. When he questions her ability to do her work, she almost heads straight back to London, but decides that she won’t let herself be intimidated or driven away before she’s even had a chance to ride in a gondola.

Losing her way in Venice’s picturesque maze of canals and alleyways, the last person Rose wants to see is Luca, but when they meet by chance and, to her surprise, he offers to show her around the city, she feels it would be churlish to refuse.

Spending sunlit summer days exploring Venice with Luca, Rose discovers a passionate side to him very different to her first impression, and her feelings towards him begin to change …

Rose knows she can restore a damaged painting, but can she mend Luca’s damaged heart?

MY REVIEW

I have always wanted to visit Venice, and Ms. Shelby’s vibrant and detailed descriptions of the Floating City are a delight for an armchair tourist like me. Rose and Luca are an unlikely couple who have a love of art and the history of Venice.

This romance has a dual timeline in Venice that spans the 16th century to the present adding intrigue and mystery, especially around a beautiful painting that Rose is working hard to restore.

Rose Bennet is an art conservator whose love for her job shines through. When a friend, Dario, gifts her a trip to Venice after she is heartbroken and homeless due to her ex, it feels like a blessing in disguise. As soon as she arrives, she meets her brooding boss, Luca Casserini. Initially, their chemistry is more like oil and water, but as the story unfolds, feelings begin to simmer.

Luca has big dreams of turning his palazzo into a gallery filled with beautiful artwork, but he’s got a lot on his plate, including raising his teenage sister. He’s driven, focused, and may come off a bit hotheaded at times. However, it is lovely to watch him slowly woo his English Rose by giving her tours of the city and beyond. There’s something deeply romantic about a man who plays his guitar at night to relax after a busy day.

The dynamic between Rose and Luca is captivating, filled with misunderstandings and genuine apologies. They try to keep their relationship under wraps from Rose’s fellow conservators and Luca’s younger sister, but that proves to be a major challenge. Plus, there is the deadline looming of Rose finishing her contract and going back to London and she doesn’t know how Luca truly feels about her.

Interwoven throughout the story are glimpses into the 16th-century past, revealing the history tied to on the paintings. These snippets revolve around a noblewoman and her forbidden romance, culminating in a fantastic revelation that helps guide Rose and Luca towards their own resolution.

What struck me the most about the book was Ms. Shelby’s incredible attention to detail, especially when it comes to the art and scenery of Venice. I was especially delighted by the art restoration and found myself engrossed in the meticulous process Rose undertakes. It’s such a unique and captivating career that I couldn’t help but admire.

If you want to immerse yourself in Venice with a couple of romances thrown in, I suggest you pack your imaginary bags and get ready to lose yourself in this book.

Thank you to Ms. Shelby for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynne Shelby writes contemporary and dual-timeline women’s fiction/romance. Her debut novel, ‘Meet Me In Paris,’ (originally titled French Kissing), won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition, and her fifth novel, Love On Location, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists’ Award. When not writing or reading, Lynne can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city, writer’s notebook and sketchbook in hand. She lives in London with her husband, and has three adult children who live nearby.