Under the Italian Sun - Sue Moorcroft

I was rooting for the main character and felt swept away to Italy (which would be perfect right now). I enjoyed the romance aspects but did find Zia's friend quite irritating. A lovely little read, but I did find it a bit slower paced than other Sue Moorcroft books that I have usually always given 5 stars to. Thank you NetGalley and Avon publishers for me E-ARC in return for my honest opinions.

An excellent summer read which on the face of it seems to be just a romance story. Underneath it touches on more subjects such as mental health etc

Zia knows only knows one side of her family history but she’s about to find out she knows even less than she realises during a trip to Umbria to discover her past.
This novel is so much more than a romance novel. There are definitely elements of romance but for me, the most fascinating plot was that of Zia’s early years and family. Combined with strong friendships, all these elements combine together wonderfully to create a lovely novel about a young woman’s search to find out who she really is.
There are so many different relationships to enjoy in Under the Italian Sun. Zia’s friendship with Ursula is fabulous. They are opposite but balance each other out and support each other so much. Then there is Zia’s past relationship with her late mother and grandparents which it completely thrown into disarray after a shocking discovery. Lucia and her family and how they link to her past in various ways. And of course, Piero is drawing Lucia in and their chemistry is gentle but there. Woven together in an intricate and emotional plot, it’s difficult to stop reading once you begin.
Just to add the cherry on top, the setting is beautiful. The views and surrounding areas are so vividly described that I could imagine myself sitting on the porch and looking out over the vineyards.
A lovely but emotional book with a rich plot and wonderful characters.

Under The Italian Sun by Sue Moorcroft is a uplifting romance story that transports us to a gorgeous country so we can almost feel that summer sun beating down.
We meet Zia who has had the shock of her life. Stunned that everything she believed about her family is a lie. She has been brought up by her grandparents after her mother died. She has undoubtably got Italian heritage, her mum gave her a name that almost spelled it out. Zia has no idea of her father or any family in Italy. She has even learnt the language and looks Italian too. Her relationship has broken down irrevocably and she has been made redundant, cue Zia wanting to go and work in italy. With Brexit there are changes to the immigration process and Zia needs to attempt to provide a family connection. She searches in the attic and comes across a suitcase of letters which don't help in anyway, they just cause more questions to be raised about who she really is. Her friend
Ursula decides to come with her so they set of to Umbria in the hope they can find out more.
They arrive in Umbria and Zia begins on a journey that unravels history in a way that she would never have thought. She starts to grow closer to Piero whose wine making family are fighting to stop the head of the family from selling the family run vineyard to a large corperation. Zia discovers things that she knows will affect everyone around her and begins to struggle with the knowledge she has.
I have only read a few Sue Moorhouse books up to now and I find they are always much more than 'just' a romance. 'Under The Italian Sun' for instance is a book that deals with so many more issues than just romance. There is mental health, family issues, the traditional values and parenthood. These are the tip of the iceberg and Sue Moorhouse deals with every single on sensitively and in a way that the multiple threads of the book all come together so well.
I actually could have there in Italy with Zia, a character that was suffering from one minute not knowing enough to slowly feeling that she knew too much about everyone around her and the impact her knowledge would have. Her romance began the same way as a fledgling bird, teetering around and having false starts until the impossibility of it happening becomes history as the chemistry takes over. Even with their issues and personal histories they have to deal with they keep on going. Everything about this story has been created in such a real and true way that these characters feel so much like flesh and blood. The ways in which things are dealt with have just the perfect ingredients to make the story feel so real and everyone so human. A testament to Sue Moorhouse.
A book that is so much more than you would think and one so very well worth diving into. Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, Avon and NetGalley for my copy of the book.

HOLY COW! If you want a one way ticket to Italy without ever leaving your couch, then this is the book for you. Moorcroft has created this amazingly done, atmospheric book that just takes you to the italian countryside. I could not get enough. I will say, this book started a little slow but quickly picked up and I instantly fell in love. This story follows Zia who has recently discovered some interesting things in her grandparents home. This curiousity sends her to Italy to learn more about her families past and her Italian Heritage. This book has so much going on and the discoveries and the relationships that Zia creates during her travels were so heart warming. This will definitely not be my last book from Moorcroft.

This is a perfect summer holiday read. I enjoyed delving deep into the italian sun, along with Zia-Lucia and her friend. The reason Zia and her friend are in Italy is to look for Zia's birth family. She finds her family but she also finds a handsome vineyard owner called Piero. Will she find love with him?

The descriptions of Italy were beautiful and I felt like I was inside the book, enjoying the hot, sunny weather and the traditional food and drink. The characters were perfect for the story and I enjoyed the family focused element of the book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Italian Sun is told from two perspectives: Zia and Piero. Zia is an Englishwoman who travels to Italy, along with her best friend Ursula, to uncover some life-changing family secrets. In Italy she meets Piero, an American-Italian whose family owns a vineyard next door to where Zia stays. On one hand, I enjoyed the book's idyllic Italian setting and thought it would make the perfect summer beach read. However, I personally thought the book would have had more depth if there were fewer storylines. Between Zia, Ursula and Piero, there was too much going on. I also would have liked to see more development in Zia and Piero's relationship to make the ending more believable. But if you're a Sue Moorcroft fan or enjoy books set in Italy, I'm sure you'll enjoy Under the Italian Sun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

A relaxing romantic summer read.
Zia-Lucia has some difficult choices.
The book is obviously set in Italy and the descriptions in the book easily transport to there,
This is not just a romantic story and there is a search for family history and the story involves different relationships and also touches on mental health issues.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family secrets but also a bit of complicated romance.

This was a lovely, undemanding, summery read. As I was reading this book, I felt the Italian sun upon my shoulders :)

Zia "did you know your name means Aunt in Italian?" loses her mother and in the hunt for answers about her father's identity, she visits Italy with her best friend, Ursula. The two girls have a wonderful time, and their stay gets even better when Zia meets Piero and there is an instant attraction between them. However, there is a lot to work out for Zia and between her ex's constant pressure to take him back, Ursula's troubles at home and the continuing questions about her parentage, she has her hands full.

A really nice story and just what I was looking for, right now.

Highly recommended!

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon.

What a perfect summer read. A real escapist journey fir the sunshine. A great clean story fir romance lovers

I did enjoy this book which is effectively two stories in one. Zia Lucia is trying to find her Italian father and also trying to discover who is really her mother. She travels to Italy with her best friend Ursula to unravel the true story of her early life. At the same time there is a love interest - Piero. We follow her journey, the surprises and disappointments and the story really does engage the reader. You care about what happened in the past and also, you want Zia Lucia to find happiness. Bring into the mix Brendan, the spiteful ex-boyfriend and Ursula's husband who try to put a spanner in the works. The story is not straightforward but that just adds to the enjoyment of the book. You can feel the het of the Italian sun, the smells and atmosphere of an Italian vineyard. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow Sue Moorcroft has done it again with this fab novel Great story line with plenty of twists and turns, very well written and this well deserves the 5 stars that I am giving it, I highly recommend it.

Thanks t Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

A tonic for those who believe that special places can nourish and nurture us, setting the stage for transformation, even after heartbreak.

This is definitely my new favourite from Sue Moorcroft. Filled with mystery, romance and characters that spring from the pages. I was glued to every page.

A story about the patience, courage and resilience it takes after having your world turned upside down, to embrace the unknown, to face family secrets, to have faith in yourself, to nourish hope for the future, and to be open to the possibilities for new life as they slowly unfold around you in places and people.

A charming, heartwarming read. I loved it!

A beautiful story filled with family secrets, sizzling romance, and a gorgeous setting. Zia discovers that she is not who she always has thought she was. SO she packs her bags and heads to Italy with her best friend Ursula, to track down her father. The story took me on an emotional journey right alongside Zia. There were some light hearted whimsical moments as well as some very emotional parts. I was so grateful that Zia had her Bestie Ursula for support who was a great character. I also was thrilled to see the chemistry that developed between Zia and Piero. But boy oh boy were things complicated in this book both Ursula and Piero had some pretty major things going on in their own lives. The setting of the story was absolutely divine and so vividly described. I seriously felt like I was right there in Italy with these characters thanks to Sue Moorcroft’s descriptive storytelling. Another wonderful story from this prolific author.

Get ready to be transported to an idyllic vineyard, overlooking the mountains and with nothing but sunshine, oh and a few family secrets getting discovered.

When you start reading this book it’s quite clear that there’s a big secret that Zia wants to uncover about her past and who she is, I was imagining that we wouldn’t find out what this was until quite far into the book but was pleasantly surprised. We actually find out the truth (or at least bits of it) really early on which then means we get to experience Zia coming to terms with the news and really thinking about her decisions.

I absolutely loved the relationship she had with Lucia and Durante, they seem like such kind and loving people who want to help others even when they’re not doing the best themselves.

With this book being based mainly in Italy there are lots of different Italian phrases and passages of speech but I loved that Sue always gave the English translation, and it was in a way that felt completely natural. I think I actually learnt a few new words!!

Italy has always been on my bucket list but this book has just knocked it up a couple of notches! Get me to the vineyard!!

Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for my gifted digital copy of this book

I love a good romance, and being able to escape to a beautiful location within the pages of a book just makes it all the more endearing.

Zia is stunned to learn that everything she thought she knew about her family was in fact a lie. After being raised by her grandparents following the death of her mother, and knowing nothing of her father other than the fact he is Italian, Zia knows little about what family she may have. There is no denying her links with Italy, as she certainly looks Italian, and has kept the language over the years, After being made redundant from work, and the breakdown of her latest relationship, Zia is certainly wanting to get away from it all.

She has dreamed of living and working in Italy, but that is something that is certainly not easy in these rather uncertain times following Brexit, the only way she can make this work is by proving she has family connections out there. When Zia retrieves a suitcase that is packed full of letters in the attic, this raises more questions than they provide answers, and worse than that, as she finds something relating to her father, Zia is left questioning everything she believed to be true about herself.

Desperately needing answers, Zia enlists the help of her best friend Ursula – who is in desperate need of escaping her own marital problems for a little while. They set off to Umbria, hoping they can shed some light on Zia’s rather uncertain family ties.

Whilst in Umbria, we see another side to this story. There is a family that is at odds with one another as their Patriarch decides that now is the right time for them to retire. Not only do they plan on retiring, they are also selling the vineyard that the family have owned for years, this is something that will have long lasting implications on several peoples lives.

These two stories begin to intertwine, as Zia learns of a family history she never could have anticipated, and the struggle she faces whilst uncovering this truth leaves her feeling the full weight of the impact this could have on those around her. During her time in Umbria, Zia has found herself growing ever closer to Piero, a man who’s winemaking family home and livelihood is being threatened by the impending sale of the vineyard.

This book is certainly overflowing with drama and romance!. I loved following the contrasting storylines between Zia’s life in the UK, and the life of her family over in Italy. Zia is one of those characters you feel a deep connection with from the beginning. She has certainly faced more than her fair share of hardships in life, but she is still a strong, determined woman who knows what she wants from life and pushes herself to do what is right. We embark on this journey with Zia as she learns the truth about her family, and what the future holds for her now she has gained those much needed answers.

And then of course there is the romance!. Zia and Piero’s love story is a beautiful, slow burner that certainly has that ‘will they, won’t they?’ vibe going on, but from the very beginning there is no denying the strong attraction that is bouncing between them. I won’t give too much more away about this, but this is certainly a story you will want to be a part of!.

A gorgeous story that takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow Zia’s journey. Full of drama, romance and not to forget the absolutely stunning setting, this is a summer read I will be recommending to everyone.

Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers has decided to apply for residency in Italy. Her mother died when she was a young girl and she lived with her grandparents, who told her that her father had been Italian and a lady called Lucia had been kind to her mother. After her grandparents died she decided to see if she could find out if she has any family in Italy. Having been made redundant from her job, and broken up with her cheating boyfriend, it seems a good time to investigate. She looks through an old case which contains some of her mother’s belongings, she has never looked through it before. Going through her mother’s letters she finds some surprising paperwork about a person she had never heard of, and the name Lucia Costa mentioned, and a place in Italy, Montelibertà. She has some information to begin her search. Initial research suggests there is just one person in Montelibertà with that name. Her best friend Ursula is going with her, her marriage is rocky and she needs to get away for a while. Zia finds out that Lucia Costa has a few rental properties, so she rents one in Ursula’s name, for the three weeks they intend to stay, and they soon set off for the long drive, which takes several days.

This is a very thoughtful story, Zia gradually unravels her history, finds many family members, makes several friends, including Piero, with whom she becomes very close. From experience gained in her previous job makes a few suggestions that help him sort out a problem within his family. By the end of the story all the loose ends have been tied up so there is a very happy ending, but there are a lot of twists and turns getting there. It is a really emotional page-turner, you relate to these people and want to know what happens to them. Well worth reading.

I found this book a bit slow going and hard to get into at first but it soon picked up the pace and I was enthralled. The main character, Zia, wants to find more about her family as she is very alone in the world. What follows is a slightly unbelievable story but enjoyable none the less. I felt like I was in Italy and I was rooting for the main characters. A great bit of escapism.

This book was such a perfect escape, I read it in one sitting as I simply couldn’t put it down as you are drawn in and hooked from the beginning.  It is the ideal summer read, and I recommend it to any and every one!
 
Zia is such a lovely Character and I instantly wanted to be her friend, especially as I didn’t particularly take to actual friend, Ursula – you will have to read the book and hopefully see/ understand why I felt this way!
 
I absolutely LOVE Italy and could definitely imagine packing up my car and driving the 1,147 miles (thank you google maps) to fall in love under the Italian stars!
 
The story is jam packed and an absolute adventure.  I definitely will be looking to read more of Sue Moorcroft, I know I have a couple on my #TBR already!

I have definitely felt like I have escaped bleak and dreary aka “summery” Newport and been transported to the beautiful vineyards of Italy. I loved the evocative and escapist experience this book gave me as I was able to feel like I had followed Zia’s journey and could see the scenery, taste the wine and so on.

I was definitely drawn in by Zia’s character and felt sympathy for her situation. She is feeling a little lost after losing her job and the end of a serious relationship, and her search for identity and belonging takes her to Italy. Zia has come across as a likeable, down-to-earth character and I have been hopeful that this journey would satisfy her desire to find out the truth of the past, but also find a place and direction to map out her future.

This complex and vital search for identity, belonging and home ensures that this book is much more than a fun and escapist holiday romance (though it is that too!) The romantic storyline is perfectly pitched and appropriately developed in order to appear authentic and yet still showcases those romantic ideals that we all need at times, in a book such as this.

I definitely feel like this book has taken me on an emotional as well as almost physical journey to Italy, and has had me rooting for the happiness and answers Zia both desires and deserves. The author has packed in much more drama and twists and turns than I expected, and this has definitely peaked my interest. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Jo Thomas, T A Williams and Lucy Coleman.