I have never read any book by Linn but I’m glad that I have gotten a chance to read this one. I got totally swept away by the story and the plot that reading was a complete pleasure and nothing else.

I have been in Italy only once but not for such a long time. The way Linn described the country make me want to travel to Italy right away just to visit everything and be under the sun. I come from Croatia, Dalmatia, so we have some similarities with Italy but I want to really visit Italy and just discover those small towns. I feel like they have a lot to offer.

Ellie is a wife and a mother of two girls that works in her friend’s interior design company part time. Josh is her husband but also a best friend with whom she can share all the secrets and knows much more about her than her friends. He is her soulmate after all. Their relationship is really wonderful and it is nice to see it’s development throughout the book.

When Ellie takes over her friend’s business trip, she is not even aware what’s awaiting for her at Villa Rosso. She thinks it is only business and that she’s only supposed to build a work relationship between her and Max. But is it the only thing that happened?!

The place looks more than a familiar and she’s wondering how is it possible. Why does she feel like she knows Max when they have just met? Why everything about him and this place looks and feels familiar? She’s swept away in the past happenings in the Villa and they can’t leave her when she’s back home as well.

The story will captivate you for sure, making you just want to keep reading. It has a bit of paranormal in it which makes you intrigued to read more because you just want to know what’s going to happen next. The pace is just right and follows the storyline perfectly. It doesn’t feel rushed at all but also not too slow. It also has a lot of different characters which makes the book just even more rich. I would say to give this book a read; no matter are you looking for a perfect summer read or just nice book to read. This book is so worth it.

Rating: 4,5 out of 5

Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about this book. I wasn’t sure what I was reading, what it was about, or what was happening. Was it a romance story or a mystery story? I’m still undecided on where to even place this on my ratings.

I feel very disappointed in myself about this book as I’ve seen some spectacular things said about it, and it’s the sort of book I normally love but it’s been one of those books I cannot decide whether I enjoyed or not. There were some things I liked. The villa, the writing style, the setting. I did like the mixture of the genres but it was confusing to pinpoint what it should have been.

While I loved the description of the villa and Italy in general, I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I didn’t really like Ellie, I found her to be repetitive and boring. Her connection to Max made no sense to me and it all just left me a little bit baffled. I wanted to like Max but I felt I didn’t learn enough about him to form a connection. I want to say something more about him than that though so I’ll say this, he was missed further into the book once Ellie wasn’t in Italy as it meant that Ellie didn’t really have a main focus point. She always seemed to be bouncing permanently between people and it slightly irritated me. I think that Max had huge potential, but I feel he was slightly looked over in the end.

The writing style of the book was fantastic though, and while I struggled with the story, I flew through the pages. The descriptive style, and the way the story was put across worked really well. I still don’t understand the beginning of the book but it’s one of those things. Going back to characters, I liked side characters more than the lead. I liked Livvie and Bella a lot, I think they have their own stories to tell. I liked Ellie’s husband, Josh. He was the sort of person I would connect with if he had his own story. I also liked Ellie’s girls as well, they were typical teenagers but they worked well within the story.

I feel like this review has been a bit of a down review but it really isn’t. While there were things that I didn’t like, there were also the things that I did like. I feel like I should probably read the book again in a few months or something and then write a fresh review. I’m giving it a 4/5.

Sometimes you just know when a book is going to be magical, and the Secrets of Villa Rosso was just that! It was a story about love, romance, soulmates with a bit of spiritual/psychic elements sprinkled in.

Ellie is a mother and wife, and she relishes in those roles. As her children get older, she returns to work and is getting to know that other side of herself again. When she is sent on a business trip to Southern Italy, she is enjoying being on her own again. When she meets Max Jackson, the connection between them is undeniable. Before you think she becomes a cliche and cheats, think again. The connection these two share is deep and emotional and was not what I was anticipating.

Be prepared to be completely caught up in an emotional tale. Halton reminded me of what it felt like to fall in love with my own soulmate, my husband. She also made me feel how blessed I am. The book will bring tears to your eyes, but it will also bring a smile to your face as well.

An important part of a book for me is the setting, and what a magical place Castrovillari was. It was beautiful, and I felt like I was there. When I feel like I’m in a setting with the characters, I know the book has captured me entirely, and I was completely mesmerized by this book. I love when I find a new author, and I am so excited to read more by Linn B. Halton.

4☆ A Mystical Mystery full of intrigue and a sprinkle of romance!

​The Secrets of Villa Rosso is a beautifully compelling read filled with mystery, intrigue, connections, friendship, romance and drama.

As soon as I find out a book is based in Italy I get excited, as I have always wanted to travel there.

Ellie is happily married to her soul mate and they have two children, but when her friend asks her to go to Italy to help her she sets off to help.

It's here at Villa Rosso Evie meets Max.
Ellie and Max are quiet clearly drawn to each other but Evie can't help wondering why she feels so connected to him and to Villa Rosso.

This book really does have a mystical feel to it which simply adds to the charm of Villa Rosso and the fabulous characters.
I do believe in Soul mates, and I believe everything happens for a reason.
If you do too you will thoroughly enjoy this enchanting warm mystery, with a sprinkle of romance.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Linn B. Halton writes wonderfully escapist contemporary women’s fiction novels rich in romance, drama, heart and emotion that make you fall head over heels in love and she is on top form with The Secrets of Villa Rosso, a glorious summer read you will not be able to put down.

Ellie Maddison counts herself lucky to have a job which requires her to travel all around the world where she gets to see some of the globe’s most beautiful and most breathtaking places while doing something which she loves with all her heart. When her latest assignment requires her to go to Southern Italy and the majestic Villa Rosso, Ellie is absolutely thrilled. Set amongst rolling vineyards and olive groves, Ellie is looking forward to spending the next couple of days in this beautiful part of the world. But what Ellie hadn’t counted on was coming face to face with the villa’s enigmatic estate director Max Jackson, with whom there is an instant spark and connection. Villa Rosso immediately gets under Ellie’s skin – and so does the brooding and charismatic Max, a man who begins to haunt all of her thoughts and dreams…

Villa Rosso is a house full of secrets and the more time Ellie spends there, the more she finds herself embroiled in the history of this mysterious house. As her feelings for Max being to intensify, Ellie finds herself getting more and more involved in uncovering the secrets that reverberate around the corridors of Villa Rosso. Unable to shake off this strange feeling that nothing is all that it seems in this Italian mansion, Ellie begins to dig deeper into the mysteries of Villa Rosso. But will she like what she finds? Is she ready to uncover the truth about the secrets of the past? And is Max all that he seems?

The Secrets of Villa Rosso is an intriguing, poignant and entertaining read that will draw you in from the very beginning and keep you engrossed and riveted to its pages until the very last word. With a mysterious paranormal thread running through the book, The Secrets of Villa Rosso is written with Linn B Halton’s trademark magic and charm which guarantees a wonderful reading experience for whoever picks up this terrific book.

You can never go wrong with a Linn B Halton novel and in The Secrets of Villa Rosso she has written a first class tale which you will devour in a single sitting. A compulsively readable novel that will keep you turning the pages late into the night, The Secrets of Villa Rosso is another outstanding tale from Linn B Halton’s talented pen!

My Rating:
3.5
Favorite Quotes:

Paris had worked its magic and if you can’t be lovers in Paris, then you have no romance in your soul.

My life is split into two; two lives that run in parallel and only cross over in my dreams… I’m torn… but unable to let go of either of the two men who make me feel complete.

My Review:

Despite its considerable length, this was an easy and comfortable read and I appreciated the pleasant and descriptive quality of the writing as well as the creativity and uniqueness of the premise, storylines, and slowly developing mysterious mystical elements. The characters were likable and I enjoyed the scenic details of the Italian locales. The pace was gentle and slow while the narrative was low-key and mild in tone with a small undercurrent of tension running throughout. My curiosity remained tipped and I was interested in how the secrets and dream elements would resolve. The rhythm remained at a slow and leisurely waltz while I kept hoping for occasional riffs of livelier tempos.

4 Magical Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a beautiful story with a sprinkling of something a little mystical, a little spiritual, a little paranormal... not even sure how to categorize it, and I’m sure each of us will take something a little different away from it, depending upon our own beliefs.... I found it quite magical and it left me feeling serene....

Once again I got to vacation vicariously through my book, this time we went to southern Italy! The descriptions were so vivid I felt as though I was there and as always when reading a book that takes place in Italy it made me hungry! Villa Rosso was located in such a charming village filled with such delightful, Artistic, and talented people....

Ellie was a wife to her soulmate Josh and a mother to her two teenage daughters... she has just begun working part time for an interior design company and when her boss/friend has a family emergency Ellie is called on to make a business trip to Italy.... when Ellie arrives in Italy she meets with Max and there is something between them... Ellie feels as though she knows Max and she feels as though she has been to Villa Rosso before... is this déjà vu? Is this kismet? Can you have more than one soulmate?

You need to know this is not a romance... even though it is a book filled with love... it is a story full of mystery, Secrets, and discovery.... it was quite unique and I can honestly say I have never read a book quite like this before... and even if you don’t believe in fate or deep connections, you can chalk it all up to coincidence... as I said everyone will get something a little different from this book....

Absolutely recommend when you’re in the mood for a book about love and secrets with a bit of a magical vibe...

*** many thanks to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book ***

THE SECRETS OF VILLA ROSSO by Linn B. Halton will transport you to the beautiful countryside of Southern Italy while also weaving a magic spell of love, friendship, and the meaning of soulmates.

Ellie Madison is happily married to Josh and as I learned about how they met and their journey through married life and parenthood, I really connected with these warm characters who came alive on the page before me. But when Ellie is sent to Villa Rosso in Italy at the last minute for work, it will open her eyes and her heart to new experiences and new sights but a sense of deja vu surrounds her throughout - has she been to this place before? Why does it feel so familiar? And why does she feel a connection with the estate director, Max Johnson?
As Ellie tries to help Max with his own situation, she longs to untangle the sensations that linger, even when she returns back to her family, and she must uncover why this place has burrowed into her heart like it's where she belongs?

With breathtaking descriptions, the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this exquisite country will take your breath away and make you yearn for a holiday to Italy - it will also make you hungry so be warned!! The characters are vibrant, engaging, and very likeable and it is easy for the reader to become embroiled in the mystery and beauty of the drama - which is why I sat down to read for twenty minutes and resurfaced an hour and a half later.

​There is love, friendship, drama, confusion, memories, and more in this wonderful story and I highly recommend THE SECRETS OF VILLA ROSSO by Linn B. Halton to anyone who enjoys a cleverly crafted, descriptive story.

Have you ever been to a place where you feel so comfortable with the surroundings and the people but yet it's the first time you've ever been there? This is what happens to Ellie Maddison when she visits Villa Rosso and feels a deep, familiar connection with Max. Ellie has found her soul mate in her husband Josh and so we follow Ellie on her journey as she tries to deal with the lasting effects from her trip.

This is the first book by Linn B Halton I have read and it certainly won't be my last. Through writing which flows effortlessly, I was transported from the very first word, into Ellie's world and the descriptions of Italy and the interior design world are devine!

I thought the structure of the story worked really well. It begins with a party for Ellie and Josh's nineteenth wedding anniversary, where Ellie sees something unsettling. It then goes back in time and Ellie takes us on her journey from the trip to Italy, the mystery which surrounds Villa Rosso, meeting Max and to her life when she returns to England.

The Secrets of Villa Rosso is Ellie's story so is told solely from her point of view. I connected with her in a way I have never connected with a character before. Every thought. Every feeling. I was living Ellie's experiences with her. When I had to put the book down because real life had to happen, I was left wondering how she was. Hats off to Linn B. Halton for writing which touched me in this way. Ellie also deeply feels things and this is mirrored in the strength and depth of the writing. It oozes off of every page.

Beautifully written and with a clever storyline, The Secrets of Villa Rosso is a story which I know will stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to escape in a page-turner this Summer.

This is a delightfully different story. Ellie Maddison is happily married with two daughters and a husband, Josh, who she feels is her soul mate. They have a great relationship, filled with love. When she returns to work with a close family friend she never dreamed of flying off to Italy but that's just what she ends up doing to help that friend out. When she's there she meets Max Jackson and there's a strange connection between the two of them, one that develops as he guides her round the area. However, there's mystery, drama and so much more in this intriguing story.  She still loves Josh but feels inextricably linked to Max as well. Is it possible to have two soul mates?

This is a story of strong relationships, mystery, intrigue, soul mates and dilemmas. It has family values, love and friendship as powerful themes throughout it and is an engaging read. The lovely descriptions bring the beautifully crafted interior design pieces to life in the imagination of the readers. The characters are well developed and easy to empathise with and the setting is simply gorgeous! It is a story packed with puzzles to be solved and a heartwarming read.

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

You will get totally swept away in this beautifully written and unique story line. Beautiful descriptions of Villa Rosso that you can perfectly visualize as you read. The reader will be very absorbed into this suspenseful story.
Pub Date 21 Jul 2017
I was given a complimentary copy from HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
.

The Villa that dreams are made of, literally! This is a truly captivating read which really gets you thinking. I enjoyed every minute of it and at times had my mind reeling!

This was another book that I saw on Netgalley and couldn't resist. Why? Because it's about Italy. I simply can't say no to Italian stories, especially if there is romance involved.


Ellie Madison is a mum of two, who loves her part time job, her family life and her husband. She has a happy routine and likes it that way. So when her boss needs her to fill in for her, on a business trip to Italy, it's a little out of Ellie's comfort zone. Not one for letting her boss and best friend down, Ellie steps up to the challenge and is left shocked at what she discovers. Italy and the place in particular that Ellie visits, feels very familiar to her. Like she's been there before. When Ellie meets Max, who looks after Villa Rosso, she feels an instant connection, that long after she leaves Italy, she cannot shake. She feels compelled to help Max, after what she learns about his past, and finds herself in the middle of quite a scandal. She has no idea what this connection is all about, but feels it's there for a reason, so she can't just sit back and do nothing about it. Will Ellie be able to help or will she risk ruining her own happy life in the process?

This story had a very interesting concept. I'm not going to lie, I did feel a little confused in some ways, not about the idea of having another soulmate and living a past life, but more so by the way Ellie handled things. I wanted her to share her experiences with her husband, as I felt that keeping them to herself, meant she was very stressed and it put a negative spin on things. She had an amazing relationship with her husband, so I felt that he would have understood, because Ellie hadn't done anything wrong with Max, she just felt compelled to help him. Keeping it to herself put a strain on her relationship and had me thinking that her husband was cheating on her, for some reason. I'm not really sure why. I felt like the bond they had could have survived this experience and would have meant less stress for Ellie.

I enjoyed the beautiful setting of Villa Rosso. It sounded lovely. The evenings on the terrace and the olive groves- Bellisima! I would love to visit! I also liked meeting the families who were working for Max and striving to create a strong business. I could picture their hard work and how much it meant for them, when Ellie admired their work and helped them sell their products. Knowing how passionate Italians are, I understood that to them, giving everything to their craft and having it appreciated, meant the world.

'The Secrets of Villa Rosso,' was a unique read. I do believe in the concept of past lives and the feeling of deja vu being because we have been in certain situations and met certain people before, so it made for an engaging story. There was mystery, love and heartbreak, which did keep me turning the page. There was also Italy and that, of course, made me happy.

4..5 Stars

I adored Evie's trip to Italy and experiencing the Villa Rosso through her eyes. She has never been to Italy before, nor on a work trip abroad by herself, and the whole experience leaves a lasting mark on her.

She is in a loving marriage, with two teenage daughters, and believes that her husband Josh, is her soul mate.

Then she meets Max, and realises that its possible to have two soul mates, and she feels an inexplicable draw to him, and wants to help him.

There are fates and other such powers at play clearly in this book, and regardless of whether you believe in those or just that coincidences do happen, its clear that there were outside forces contributing to Evie's reaction to her trip to Italy.

This a story of love, of friendship, with a fabulous mystery in it, set to a backdrop of family life, with gorgeous interior design pieces and crafts, some fabulous characters, and reading this book weirdly gave me an overwhelming sense of calm.

It is another fabulous book from the always talented Linn B. Halton, and one that I am so glad that I had the chance to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is the first book I have read of Linn B Halton and I really loved it.

It was a well written story with lovely characters and a fabulous setting. I particularly enjoyed the parts set in Italy - it felt as if I was there, I could smell the gorgeous Italian cooking and it made me long to be there too!

It is a beautiful story about true love and soul mates. I was captivated from the start and I really cared about the characters. Beautiful evocative writing, I lost myself in this book and couldn't put it down.

Highly recommended. I shall certainly be reading more from this author.

We've all experienced that feeling of deja vu about a place, a person or an event but what if the feeling didn't go away but intensified and impinged on your real life, threatening the happiness of those you love most? This is what happens to Ellie when she meets Max at the Villa Rosso on a serendipitous business trip.
The story is full of mysteries and broken relationships that hide beneath the beautiful facade of Villa Rosso. Max's story is so sad and it is this inherent sadness that draws the reader to him, even though his presence is putting Ellie and Josh's idyllic relationship in danger.
There are plenty of twists and supernatural shadows as the story unfurls but the strength of Ellie's relationship with Josh gives us hope that love will prevail, even when the romance of Italy draws Ellie closer to Max.
The ending is both expected yet surprising and perfect for such a thought-provoking read.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Lovely cover on the book which drew me in at the beginning. So glad to say i was not disappointed at all. It was a lovely summer read. In what sounded like a gorgoeus setting. Nice characters and a great storyline to boot.

Ellie meets her soulmate early on and they only need each other for completion. She becomes a housewife, caring for her children and decides to return to work as an interior designer part time once they are in her teens. She unexpectedly finds herself visiting the villa Rosso on a work trip where she feels a sense of deja vu and belonging. Despite being happy with her soulmate and family she finds herself drawn to Max, sympathising with his tragic story. I found this book unsettling, perhaps as it is told by Ellie in a quite anguished way. It took me a long time to get into the narative I think because she is relating it in the past at the beginning. I didn't empathise with the. Characters myself but it was well written.

This book started really well, but unfortunately went into a direction I wasn't ready for and didn't enjoy. The book wasn't really a romance, it wasn't really a travel fiction and it wasn't really a mystery. It tried to be all, but in my eyes it didn't really achieve any of them well. The main character goes on a work trip and feels a connection to the manager of the of the estate. This was all and well, but for some reason it turned into an esoteric connection, with frankly no real chemistry in my eyes.

I did not like this. At all. This book tried too much to be so many things that it felt all over the place. The characters are also very cardboard cut out and the story is just plain boring. The ending? Totally did not please me. Also, what's up with the "two lives" thingy? It ended up being so cringe-y.