The Temptation of Gracie

Okay, first you have to get past the awful title, which sound like a bodice ripper from the 1980s. This is actually a story about a woman, now a grandmother, who is looking back over her life and wondering if she has time to right old wrongs. Gracie moved to Italy after World War II to learn to be an art restorer with her ne’er do well uncle. She fell in love there, but left everything behind to return to England and never looked back until now. Now she’s booked a cooking course in Tuscany and invited her daughter and granddaughter to join her, back to the place her story really began. Told in both past and present day, this is Montfiore at her best, as she tells a story of love and loss, hope and redemption

I enjoyed this book, but just a few things stopped me from giving this 4 stars. It felt quite rushed to me... some of the facts in the story were rushed over. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed... I would of liked to hear more about the Count and when they finally at last re connected.

Having said that.... the Italian writing style was gorgeous and I really felt that the location and Italian experiences were authentic.

Gracie is a mousey & quite woman who is actually very efficient. In her Devon village she is greatly overlooked but in reality she enables many events to run smoothly. It comes as an enormous surprise (and great inconvenience) when the village discover Gracie is planning to go away for a holiday - to Italy on a cookery course of all things! It comes as a shock to her excessively busy daughter & teenage grand-daughter as well though they finally join her on the trip. Here the real Gracie unfurls to show her true self and reveal her exciting past. Her daughter and grand-daughter also discover themselves and their relationship as a family starts to blossom.

I really enjoyed this book. It is essentially a feel-good story where the reader has a feeling from the start that all will end happily ever after, they are just not sure how. It is a light and easy read though not trivial. There is a good plot that works well and great characters many of which I recognise from life! I raced through this book as it had all the ingredients for a good read - good characters, a sound plot, a bit of history, some light amusing bits and an ending that worked well.

I don't remember the last time I read a Santa Montefiore book but I suspect that there are many out there that I should investigate. I really enjoyed the read and struggled to put it down. I can heartily recommend - perfect for a summer read though beware, you may end up engrossed and get sunburnt. Stock up on wine & chocolate before you start - you won't want to stop!

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is the first book by Santa Montefiore I have read and I was a little disappointed. Although the characters are likeable and the descriptions of the Tuscan countryside are beautiful, the story felt oddly superficial. The transformation of the relationships between Gracie, Carina and Anastasia felt rushed and unrealistic and the ending, although a happy one, was brief and under-developed. It would have been nice to hear Tancredi's thoughts on the years he was without Gracie. Still, this is a nice Summer read for the beach.

This book is the perfect beach read. Set in Tuscany it really makes you think of holidays and sunshine.
Widow Gracie decides to book a cookery holiday in Italy after seeing an advert in a magazine. Her friends in her Devon village and her London family cannot dissuade her and in the end her daughter Carina, a self obsessed business woman who rarely visits, decides to accompany Gracie to ensure she is ok as her mother is not used to foreign travel. Anastasia, Carina’s daughter, also goes and she gradually gets to know her grandmother on the trip- this is a touching family story as well as a romance.
Gracie has been keeping secrets for over 40 years and it is only in the Tuscany sunshine that she lets her guard slip and begins to reveal her early life to her granddaughter.
This novel takes place in two time frames, when Gracie is young in her early twenties when she is living in Italy and also in the present day when she embarks upon a bonding holiday with her estranged family.
This is a relaxing read, perfect for long Summer days on the beach. The characters were well drawn and likeable, even Carina, who softerns as the book progresses.
I loved the setting of Tuscany- the author really managed to evoke the beautiful scenery and I felt as if I was really there.
I’ve never read any books by Santa Montefiore before and now that I’ve enjoyed this one I shall be taking a look at her impressive back catalogue.
The Temptation Of Gracie is perfect for fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.