Cover Image: Under the Italian Sun

Under the Italian Sun

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Zia-Lucia finds out that there were a few secrets in her family that meant she wasnt who she thought she was so she sets off to Italy to find out more about the other side of her family.
A lovely feel good story with a happy ending despite her ex trying to mess things up for her

Was this review helpful?

Mystery,Romace, Sizzling Sun....
A touch of mystery, a touch of romance and a touch of good living under the sizzling Italian sun. Some perfect escapism again from Sue Moorcroft in the most glorious setting. Enjoyable, relaxing reading.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic book from Sue. As always I felt as if I was right there in the book with the wonderful characters. a great one for soaking up the sun with this summer.

Was this review helpful?

What an absolute tonic in a book. A beautiful setting, sunshine and some sauciness. This is certainly a book that will pull you in right from the first page and keep you thoroughly engaged. We meet some great characters along the way, but by far my favourite has to be Piero. I heartily recommend reading this wonderfully written story.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely story!
I was hooked right from the start. As soon as I had read the first chapter I wanted to go with Zia on her adventure to Italy. The story is all about discovering family secrets and finding the truth and relationships.

I loved the friendship between Zia and her best friend Ursula and the old Lucia was just so lovely. I was worried the setting on a vineyard would be too much for someone who doesn't even like wine, but no, it was just right.

All in all a great read if you just want to escape your day to day life.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is my second Sue Moorcroft book but like I said after my first, this will certainly not be my last.

This book was wonderful and the perfect book to read during this pandemic - I felt truly transported to Italy and her descriptive work is some of the best out there.

I loved all of the side characters in this book plus Zia and Pierce were delightful to read! I absolutely felt for Zia through this book and wanted only the best for her and Pierce was the perfect partner for her.

This book was cozy and warm and wonderful- definitely pick this one up!

Thank you Sue Moorcroft, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

i always enjoy reading sue moorcrofts book s and this one is a sure hit she starts off slow with story lines and then you cant put the book down till the end and the places in italy were the story unfolds sound so relaxing and warm brill

Was this review helpful?

Wonderful escape to the Summer sun of Italy. Sue Moorcroft does it again, drawing you in with fabulous descriptions, beautiful settings and a romance at the heart of it all. Zia-Lucia goes to Italy in search of answers and ends up with so much more, but not before almost losing it all. If you have love in your heart you will love this book.

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyable book that brings the delightful setting of Italy alive. The main character Zia is well written and you certainly feel for her with everything she has been through and discovers. The right ending for all and I wasn't left longing for a sequal nicely finished off. My only criticism is that they are a lot of characters in this book, hard to get your head around all the names to start with. Totally recommend.

Also reviewed on 2 Facebook pages

Was this review helpful?

I think this is one of my favourite Sue Moorcroft books to date. The hero Piero is fanciable just from Sue’s words on the page. Zia has a lot going on with her complex family dynamics and the fact her ex-boyfriend is best buddies with her best friend’s husband. Add into this an interesting and complex plotline spanning across England and Italy and there is plenty to keep you guessing. Can’t wait for the next novel already!

Was this review helpful?

At a time when we are all unable to travel, it was such a delight to be taken into the magnificent Italian wine countryside and feel the hot sun tinge our skin. I love all of Sue's stories and this is another fantastic delivery of the story of Zia-Lucia who travels to Italy to discover her heritage and unravel the mystery of her birth. There she meets Piero, winemaker and an entire extended family. There's obstacles along the way but it's the perfect feel-good read for the world we're currently living in. Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for reaching out to me in regards to reviewing this! I loved it! It was so sweet and just what I needed to get out of a funk!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this from start to finish, it kept me occupied and quiet much to my husband's delight!

When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known.

However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

I love Sue Moorcrofts books and this was up there with the best.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve been enjoying Sue Moorcroft books for a number of years now, so I was really pleased to receive a review copy of Under the Italian Sun.

I really enjoy the sense of location in Sue’s books, and I could feel the Italian sun beaming down on me for most of this one.

The characters were excellent as always, three dimensional, with flaws as well as being lovable. I particularly liked Zia, though I found it hard to understand why she’s still taking her ex’s calls when he’s being so awful. I’d have blocked him before the beginning of the book! I got really attached to the characters in this story, and as it has slightly more drama than I prefer, I got rather upset when things started to go wrong! That just demonstrates the quality of the writing, and of course I knew I was safe with this author, and the lovely happy ending came soon enough.

If you fancy a lovely, sunny trip to a vineyard in Italy, with some romance and a little family drama thrown in, then this is definitely the book for you.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness this book was absolutely lovely and exactly what I needed being stuck at home lately. The writing really draws you in and leaves you imagining what it would be like on holiday again!
I loved Zia as a character and really wanted the best for her. Highly recommend if you are looking for a summery read with a bit of escapism.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for a copy of "Under the Italian Sun" in exchange for my honest review.

The story begins in Brighton where Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers is looking for answers after the death of her beloved Gran & Pap. She starts looking through her mother's things. She has not looked at any of her things even though she passed away when Zia was 10. She fell off a ladder and died. She wants to fill in the blank on her birth certificate as to who her father was.

She finds birth and death certificates for Victoria Chalmers that don't match the dates that she knows for her mother. While both documents state that Victoria was born in Devon, the death certificates are very different. Her Mum died in Cambridgeshire in 2001 at the age of 45. While the "other" Victoria died in Exmouth in 1991 at the age of 18. School reports don't match either. Her mum would have only been 17 when the other Victoria was born. Was she Zia's sister, half-sister or possibly her mum? All her roads seem to lead her to Italy.

There are many characters to follow in this story and the storyline is a bit complicated but it is a very charming addition to Ms. Moorcroft's books.

Was this review helpful?

Well I just knew I wasn't going to be disappointed in this book, right from the first few pages. I was hooked and read it in 2 days, which is good for me as I'm a slow reader.

I loved all the characters and their differing personalities. Even controlling Gabriella. Piero just sounded like your ideal man and Zia, the main character was like someone you'd have as a best friend.

Sue Moorcroft has based her many books in various countries, including France
Malta and Switzerland. The wonderful descriptive writing of the areas, especially in this book with its vineyards, makes you feel you have personally been there before. She brings the areas to life.

A wonderful read, albeit with some traumas included; a feelgood book, full of love and friendships.

Was this review helpful?

Please someone whisk me away to Italy! This story left me longing of days of sun on my skin and visiting places like Italy. A lovely tale of Zia wanting to know her roots and where she came from whilst unravelling a lifetime of mystery and lies searching for her happily every after. Just loved it!

Was this review helpful?

Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers is only ten years old when her mother dies in an accident. Her grandparents return from Spain to raise her. She wants to know more about her ancestry; was her father Italian? Does she have any living relatives? Why does she have information on two women named Victoria Chalmers? Zia starts researching her past and her family - in essence a search to find out who she really is.
With the help of her best friend they travel to a small village in Italy and start to uncover family secrets which have been dormant for over thirty years. Throw in a romance with an Italian wine merchant , interference from a truly awful ex- boyfriend and a few twists and turns along the way and the story really takes you on an adventure you won't forget.

Was this review helpful?

Want to know what love feels like? Read a Sue Moorcroft novel!

'Under the Italian Sun' is the forthcoming novel by this Amazon and Sunday Time best selling author. When I get my hands upon the new novel, I'm all a quiver as I know I'm in for an exciting, but above all else, romantic ride, this novel didn't disappoint in any way.

A little about the book, as I hate giving out too much if anything at all about the plot, if I can help it. This is the story of Zia and her journey to find her family; it's not an easy one. Dumping her cheating boyfriend - a rotter of the highest order, I may add - she goes off to Italy with her best friend (also going through man problems) to see if she can find out more, especially about the father she never knew.

Zia isn't prefect, making as much trouble for herself as she finds herself in, and that's the beauty of her character. It's not easy to write someone who you love, yet at the same time, feel like shouting at the screen, "Wake up woman!" Ms. Moorcroft is the master of this. I also loved her love interest, Piero and the fire between them burns as hot and cold as you could wish for.

One more thing about the actual book, I've never been to mainland Italy, but I now would go there just to be able to lie down in the middle of a vineyard, a glass of fine wine in my hand and stare up at the night sky. The book is that beautifully described!

This is a beautiful read and the only disappointing thing about it is...it ended! I cannot recommend this book high enough and my thanks go to Avon and Netgalley for the review copy.

Was this review helpful?