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Escape to Italy #1
Summer in Sorrento
A heartwarming, escapist summer romance - the first in a series of romantic standalone tales set in Italy's most evocative locations.
A Kindle Unlimited Series - all books in this series are free to read via Kindle Unlimited.
Escape To Italy Series (can be read in any order)
SUMMER IN SORRENTO
SPRING IN SICILY
AUTUMN IN VERONA
WINTER IN VENICE
Maia Connolly never expected to find herself widowed at forty-five. Her beloved husband died unexpectedly while restoring their nineteenth century Italian farmhouse on a secluded hillside in Sorrento.
Since his death, money is tight which is why Maia decides to open the farmhouse to tourists as summer accommodation.
Uncertain of her business capabilities and even more of her hospitality skills, she is thrown in at the deep end when her first bookings appear and her new guests all arrive over the same week.
First there’s Jacob, an attractive New Yorker of obvious Italian origin who has returned to the area to visit his ailing father. Clearly they don’t get on, as he refuses to stay in the family home in Naples. But what has caused their rift?
Amelia, a shy twenty-something London girl is in Sorrento for a friend’s wedding. But she seems hesitant about her connection to the bridal party.
Cal and Lori have returned to Italy for their ten-year anniversary in the hope of recapturing some of the spark lost from their marriage. Will the beauty and romance of Sorrento help them rekindle their love for each other?
Gradually each of Maia’s summer guests find their worries eased and hearts lightened by the beauty of this magical place….
A Kindle Unlimited Series - all books in this series are free to read via Kindle Unlimited.
Escape To Italy Series (can be read in any order)
SUMMER IN SORRENTO
SPRING IN SICILY
AUTUMN IN VERONA
WINTER IN VENICE
Maia Connolly never expected to find herself widowed at forty-five. Her beloved husband died unexpectedly while restoring their nineteenth century Italian farmhouse on a secluded hillside in Sorrento.
Since his death, money is tight which is why Maia decides to open the farmhouse to tourists as summer accommodation.
Uncertain of her business capabilities and even more of her hospitality skills, she is thrown in at the deep end when her first bookings appear and her new guests all arrive over the same week.
First there’s Jacob, an attractive New Yorker of obvious Italian origin who has returned to the area to visit his ailing father. Clearly they don’t get on, as he refuses to stay in the family home in Naples. But what has caused their rift?
Amelia, a shy twenty-something London girl is in Sorrento for a friend’s wedding. But she seems hesitant about her connection to the bridal party.
Cal and Lori have returned to Italy for their ten-year anniversary in the hope of recapturing some of the spark lost from their marriage. Will the beauty and romance of Sorrento help them rekindle their love for each other?
Gradually each of Maia’s summer guests find their worries eased and hearts lightened by the beauty of this magical place….
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2014
356 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hill
129 books1,275 followersMelissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 14, 2015
5 Words: Love, family, friendship, summer, holidays.
I kinda knew what I was getting into with this, but I still found that I was pretty disappointed.
This could really do with some polishing up. The story doesn't flow too well, it jumps around, so much is crammed into it. It needs to be a wee bit longer.
And I was very distracted by the main character saying "mom". She wasn't American, she was British. It's "mam" or "mum". That was me straight out of the story and rolling my eyes, it was a hard push to read after that as other Americanisms became more obvious.
I kinda knew what I was getting into with this, but I still found that I was pretty disappointed.
This could really do with some polishing up. The story doesn't flow too well, it jumps around, so much is crammed into it. It needs to be a wee bit longer.
And I was very distracted by the main character saying "mom". She wasn't American, she was British. It's "mam" or "mum". That was me straight out of the story and rolling my eyes, it was a hard push to read after that as other Americanisms became more obvious.
April 21, 2020
Esta es una breve historia sin grandes pretenciones pero muy entretenida y de las que dejan muy buena sensación. Tiene una gran variedad de personajes, cada uno con sus vidas, características y personalidad propia pero al igual que Maia, todos están pasando por un momento complicado en sus vidas.
Reseña completa en: https://libroshappy.org/summer-in-sor...
Reseña completa en: https://libroshappy.org/summer-in-sor...
August 25, 2014
I saw this book on amazon for free and thought it would be a nice quick read and wasn’t disappointed.
Cover!
This cover is Perfect, it's has a real summer feel to it, what more can I say!
We meet Maia who moved to Sorrento with her husband expecting to have life of retirement and fulfillment, but when her husband suddenly dies, Maia is left to pick up the pieces of their dream Determined to not give up that dream, but with money tight Maia decides to turn the house in to a guest house.
Melissa describes in detail the hills around Sorrento and I can say this if you didn’t want to go before you will after reading this.
Maia is a lovely character, although faced with tragic circumstances is determined to make the most of life, she has pearls of wisdom for her visitors who treat her not only as the host of the guest house but as a friend as well.
We learn so much about all the characters in a short space of time and I really found this kept flowing and moving the story along, I was only sad when it ended as I want it to go on longer but I see this is the first in a series of these books, can’t want to read more.
A beautiful story set in a beautiful place
Cover!
This cover is Perfect, it's has a real summer feel to it, what more can I say!
We meet Maia who moved to Sorrento with her husband expecting to have life of retirement and fulfillment, but when her husband suddenly dies, Maia is left to pick up the pieces of their dream Determined to not give up that dream, but with money tight Maia decides to turn the house in to a guest house.
Melissa describes in detail the hills around Sorrento and I can say this if you didn’t want to go before you will after reading this.
Maia is a lovely character, although faced with tragic circumstances is determined to make the most of life, she has pearls of wisdom for her visitors who treat her not only as the host of the guest house but as a friend as well.
We learn so much about all the characters in a short space of time and I really found this kept flowing and moving the story along, I was only sad when it ended as I want it to go on longer but I see this is the first in a series of these books, can’t want to read more.
A beautiful story set in a beautiful place
May 31, 2015
I didn't finish this one.
I'm sorry...
I like chicklit, but this didn't do it for me, I don't understand why or... How.
But no. The characters are all flat, the storyline is't what it's supposed to be;
interesting, loving, ... Fun.
Nope.
1 star for the writing style, which I did like!
I'm sorry...
I like chicklit, but this didn't do it for me, I don't understand why or... How.
But no. The characters are all flat, the storyline is't what it's supposed to be;
interesting, loving, ... Fun.
Nope.
1 star for the writing style, which I did like!
September 16, 2016
Prekrasna kratka novela koja se čita u jednom dahu. Za sve ljubitelje D. Macomber i njezinog Pansiona u vrtu ruža ovo će biti pun pogodak! Ja je nisam mogla ispustiti iz ruku!
March 21, 2020
Wonderful easy read!
From the minute you start reading you feel like you are transported to the countryside in Sorrento. I could almost smell the lemons and azaleas!
From the minute you start reading you feel like you are transported to the countryside in Sorrento. I could almost smell the lemons and azaleas!
September 19, 2019
Sorrento in Summer: Escape to Italy Book 1 is by Holly Greene. This is the first book in the series and it is absolutely wonderful. Holly makes you feel like you are actually in Sorrento at the Villa Azalea with the characters. It makes you want to actually go there and experience the hospitality of Maia as she runs her guest house. You can imagine sitting in her special place overlooking Sorrento and seeing Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples spread before you. You can smell the lemons from the lemon trees and taste the olives fresh from the trees. It is simply a delightful book.
The story is wonderful too. It takes four people from different places and with different lives and brings them together, each with their own problems. Holly lets the magic of Sorrento take hold of them and helps them with their unique problems and yet brings them together as friends who help each other out. It is a really uplifting book and it leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling that all is well. However, you aren’t quite sure that all is well.
The story is wonderful too. It takes four people from different places and with different lives and brings them together, each with their own problems. Holly lets the magic of Sorrento take hold of them and helps them with their unique problems and yet brings them together as friends who help each other out. It is a really uplifting book and it leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling that all is well. However, you aren’t quite sure that all is well.
March 28, 2020
This book was on kindle unlimited, it had a beautiful cover so i thought i would give it a go. I was not disappointed. I read most of this book in one day (which is very good for me), when i was holed up at home whilst the pandemic was out there.
I would say it was a lovely uplifting, heartwarming story. This typically is my ideal book - a story that transports you to a beautiful far away location. With believable, wonderful characters, which you end up loving. Although, i was a bit disappointed for Amelia as i wanted her and Jacob to end up together.
I wondered Melissa was this story actually based on a real hotel in Italy. As it seems really inviting to me.
I would say it was a lovely uplifting, heartwarming story. This typically is my ideal book - a story that transports you to a beautiful far away location. With believable, wonderful characters, which you end up loving. Although, i was a bit disappointed for Amelia as i wanted her and Jacob to end up together.
I wondered Melissa was this story actually based on a real hotel in Italy. As it seems really inviting to me.
May 19, 2021
Actually this was a big disappointment. Not the story itself. It is very nice and the setting is great. In fact, I was just settling in for a lovely read to take me away from all this Covid stuff, when suddenly, the book came to an end.
How absolutely disappointing!! I thought it was just the beginning. I may try another one of Hill's books with my free Amazon account, but if they are all this short, I won't be buying them.
P.S. Just a hint to the author. If all the stories are set in Italy but are this short, why not put them together in one book. I'm sure your readers would pick up on that.
How absolutely disappointing!! I thought it was just the beginning. I may try another one of Hill's books with my free Amazon account, but if they are all this short, I won't be buying them.
P.S. Just a hint to the author. If all the stories are set in Italy but are this short, why not put them together in one book. I'm sure your readers would pick up on that.
October 6, 2020
Disappointing
Some interesting characters and nice storyline that wasn't properly considered or explored,I felt the author had set up the story nicely, but then gave it no substance, and ended the story in a quick,few, short chapters . Very disappointing I could not recommend this book as it felt like an outline of an idea that needed to be built upon
Some interesting characters and nice storyline that wasn't properly considered or explored,I felt the author had set up the story nicely, but then gave it no substance, and ended the story in a quick,few, short chapters . Very disappointing I could not recommend this book as it felt like an outline of an idea that needed to be built upon
November 4, 2020
Summer fun in horroble timea
This book cheered me up no end. Especially when we are going into another lockdown.
It is light, funny and very romantic. Absolutely loved it and would highly recommend
This book cheered me up no end. Especially when we are going into another lockdown.
It is light, funny and very romantic. Absolutely loved it and would highly recommend
September 5, 2023
Not a great story as the whole plot was very fanciful and not realistic. Like all of the four stories in this collection, the book was inundated with a catalogue of errors littered through it, grammatical and plot-wise.
August 17, 2024
Summer in Sorrento (Escape to Italy #1) by Melissa Hill – Opening up her home as a bed and breakfast starts out as a way to help pay bills, but Maia finds comfort in taking care of the guests and their unique problems! Happy Reading!
May 25, 2017
Great book! Loved the characters!
March 21, 2019
A wonderful story, but it could have been so much more. Between the countryside and the characters, there was so much to elaborate on. This book was just a taste of what it could have been.
June 10, 2019
I read it in an afternoon! Its a heartwarming light read, perfect for a rainy day!
Read
April 6, 2020Good short story
April 17, 2020
Loved this quick read about a beautiful B&B in Italy and learning not only about the owner, but the first guests staying there too. A really good heartwarming book.
August 12, 2020
Lovely Read
The book was a lovely feel good book. Nice easy holiday read. I love these books always put a smile on my face.
The book was a lovely feel good book. Nice easy holiday read. I love these books always put a smile on my face.
September 21, 2020
Nice easy afternoon read.
April 30, 2021
Fun mini escape to Italy that's perfect for reading while getting a pedicure or similar cozy indulgent hour or two.
January 29, 2024
A very short story with very little happening, just as I was getting familiar with the characters it ended! But it was a pleasant read with nice descriptions of Italy.
March 28, 2025
This short story has a lot of potential to be turned into a great full length novel.
July 15, 2025
A nice read after something fairly dark. Was just total escapism in Sorrento!
July 26, 2018
I’m not normally a fan of short stories as I prefer a long book to really sink my teeth in to. But the combination of the author and the setting convinced me to give this one a try.
Good decision by me! A sweet read, with lively characters, lots of sub plots, all in a dreamy Italian setting.
Good decision by me! A sweet read, with lively characters, lots of sub plots, all in a dreamy Italian setting.
March 5, 2017
Couldn't put it down.
Great book I have had this on my kindle for quite a long time and only just read it, haven't read anything by Melissa hill before, but will definitely again.
Great book I have had this on my kindle for quite a long time and only just read it, haven't read anything by Melissa hill before, but will definitely again.
December 27, 2014
I managed to grab a free copy of this short story from B&N two weeks ago and finally sat down and finished it. There are actually three different stories in this book based on the different guests of Villa Azalea.
Firstly, we have the handsome New Yorker, Jacob, who seemed to be troubled over his ailing father. Next up we get Amelia, a London girl who is attending the wedding of her ex-fiancé. Lastly we have Lori and Hal, who were revisiting their Honeymoon in Sorrento.
Each of the character had some troubling stuffs with them and Maia, the hostess of Villa Azalea, had managed to talk to them and gave them advices. Everyone managed to leave the farmhouse a happy person.
As this is a short story of about 60 pages, I find that we managed to get a good and clear image of Maia, the main character, in this book. I loved how she used her own experience to open up the heart of her guest and how they became her friend and their lives intertwined with each other during their stay at the farmhouse.
I am hoping that Melissa Hill would continue this short story in a full length novel where we can see more of Villa Azalea and Maia. I would definitely be interested to know if Maia will be able to find her second love in Sorrento.
Firstly, we have the handsome New Yorker, Jacob, who seemed to be troubled over his ailing father. Next up we get Amelia, a London girl who is attending the wedding of her ex-fiancé. Lastly we have Lori and Hal, who were revisiting their Honeymoon in Sorrento.
Each of the character had some troubling stuffs with them and Maia, the hostess of Villa Azalea, had managed to talk to them and gave them advices. Everyone managed to leave the farmhouse a happy person.
As this is a short story of about 60 pages, I find that we managed to get a good and clear image of Maia, the main character, in this book. I loved how she used her own experience to open up the heart of her guest and how they became her friend and their lives intertwined with each other during their stay at the farmhouse.
I am hoping that Melissa Hill would continue this short story in a full length novel where we can see more of Villa Azalea and Maia. I would definitely be interested to know if Maia will be able to find her second love in Sorrento.
August 9, 2015
There's a few inconsistencies with this novella, for example the author tells us exactly where the villa is and the views that it has, so if you're familiar with Sorrento you can place it, so when the lead character Maia
directs someone to Pompeii saying it's 30 minutes away you realise this is incorrect, the journey would take at least 50 minutes if the roads were clear. Also she says Maia puts out jars of olives picked and cleaned the previous night, this is impossible as you cannot eat olives without them being treated properly, which is after 2 weeks of daily rinsing to remove toxins and then 2 months of brining, a little research would have sorted this.
But I'm being a tad pedantic, the story works well, at times it's a little unbelievable that strangers would open up to Maia so easily, but it's fiction and chick-lit at that so you can allow a little poetic licence.
There's a handful of errors in the text, at one point Maia's name becomes maybe and please does anyone actually use the word discombobulated, put down that thesaurus as often less is more.But on the whole it's a short fun read.
directs someone to Pompeii saying it's 30 minutes away you realise this is incorrect, the journey would take at least 50 minutes if the roads were clear. Also she says Maia puts out jars of olives picked and cleaned the previous night, this is impossible as you cannot eat olives without them being treated properly, which is after 2 weeks of daily rinsing to remove toxins and then 2 months of brining, a little research would have sorted this.
But I'm being a tad pedantic, the story works well, at times it's a little unbelievable that strangers would open up to Maia so easily, but it's fiction and chick-lit at that so you can allow a little poetic licence.
There's a handful of errors in the text, at one point Maia's name becomes maybe and please does anyone actually use the word discombobulated, put down that thesaurus as often less is more.But on the whole it's a short fun read.
March 12, 2016
Short story, free download on IBooks
I enjoy this author's books and just looked today to see if she had anything new out and found this free ebook. It says it's part one of a series, but I don't think the characters recur. I think the connection between the stories is Italy.
This was a sweet, short story. This is a story you can finish in an afternoon.
Maia has opened a hotel. It was her husband's dream for them to open it together. They bought it about three years ago and he passed away about a year later. This leaves Maia in a place that she's not used to (she's from Ireland) and a dream that she hopes she can accomplish.
This story follows the time after her first guests check in.
It kind of reminded me of Maueve Binchy's (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong) book A Week in Winter.
I know this was a teaser to a series, but I wish it had been longer. I definitely wanted to know more about the characters.
Definitely worth the download. It was a really pleasant surprise to find.
I enjoy this author's books and just looked today to see if she had anything new out and found this free ebook. It says it's part one of a series, but I don't think the characters recur. I think the connection between the stories is Italy.
This was a sweet, short story. This is a story you can finish in an afternoon.
Maia has opened a hotel. It was her husband's dream for them to open it together. They bought it about three years ago and he passed away about a year later. This leaves Maia in a place that she's not used to (she's from Ireland) and a dream that she hopes she can accomplish.
This story follows the time after her first guests check in.
It kind of reminded me of Maueve Binchy's (forgive me if I spelled her name wrong) book A Week in Winter.
I know this was a teaser to a series, but I wish it had been longer. I definitely wanted to know more about the characters.
Definitely worth the download. It was a really pleasant surprise to find.
November 24, 2014
I'm usually a big fan of Melissa Hill but this was a bit of a let down. May have been because it was a short story but there just wasn't much in it.
The book is about Maia a 45 year old woman who moved from Ireland to Sorrento with her husband. After he dies suddenly she's left to try to find the money to support herself and renovate the home they bought together. She opens it as a guest house and the book follows her opening week and the guests who stay.
I couldn't really connect with Maia as a character. She acted like her life was over and spent most of her time giving advice and reminiscing about her husband. She was all knowing and seemed more like a 65 year old than a 45 year old. The other characters with problems including an ex getting married, father dying and marriage problem seemed to get them sorted after a glass of wine and a bit of a chat. If only things were that simple.
Overall an ok quick read but nothing special.
The book is about Maia a 45 year old woman who moved from Ireland to Sorrento with her husband. After he dies suddenly she's left to try to find the money to support herself and renovate the home they bought together. She opens it as a guest house and the book follows her opening week and the guests who stay.
I couldn't really connect with Maia as a character. She acted like her life was over and spent most of her time giving advice and reminiscing about her husband. She was all knowing and seemed more like a 65 year old than a 45 year old. The other characters with problems including an ex getting married, father dying and marriage problem seemed to get them sorted after a glass of wine and a bit of a chat. If only things were that simple.
Overall an ok quick read but nothing special.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews