The Mysterious Italian Houseguest

Summer at Villa Rosa #2

by Scarlet Wilson

Falling for the enemy! Italian movie star Javier Russo needs to escape his Hollywood life. Isola dei Fiori is the perfect retreat—a lush island in the glittering Mediterranean. What he didn’t expect was having to share his peaceful hideaway with the infuriatingly beautiful Portia Marlowe! Celebrity reporter Portia is intrigued by her unwelcome and mysterious visitor, and the secrets he s clearly holding back. Villa Rosa isn’t big enough for both of them, and soon there s nowhere to hide from their simmering chemistry! Summer at Villa Rosa—Book 2 of 4

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mysterious Italian Houseguest by Scarlet Wilson is a charming, feel-good romance about two polar opposites finding love. Javier Russo is a movie star looking to get some alone time far away from his hectic Hollywood lifestyle. Portia Marlowe, a celebrity reporter is out at Isola dei Fiori to clear her head and think about her boss’s demands—if she doesn’t get the next big story then she’s out. What Javier and Portia both haven’t expected is finding a mutual understanding between each other which eventually adds to a spark that slowly ignites. The romance evolves like a Hallmark movie, with bumps and happy times interspersing to draw you in. I really, really was captivated by this sweet, marvelously well-written story! I highly recommend you get The Mysterious Italian Houseguest in your hands right away! You won’t be disappointed.

Recommended
4.5 Stars

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: 4/5
Characterisation: 4/5
Prose: 3/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5

[Rizki Utami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sejauh ini aku baru baca 4 buku Harlequin, dan diantara semuanya buku ini adalah yang paling aku suka. Masih dengan karakter wanita yang keras kepala dan romance tarik-ulurnya, tapi adegan bed scene yang tidak dijelaskan secara detail dan diganti dengan kisah romantis mereka yang pelan tapi pasti. Jadi, aku bacanya nggak skimming atau dilewat-lewat dan benar-benar mengikuti ceritanya.
Alurnya ringan, tentang orang yang menemukan cinta sejatinya. Proses pendekatan mereka juga manis. Tapi cara penulisannya bikin bingung. Ada beberapa flashback yang bercampur sama cerita present/masa kini nya jadi bikin aku baca lagi dan sadar kalau itu flashback. Seenggaknya PoV nya nggak bercampur sih... jadi masih bisa membedakan PoV cewe dan cowo nya.

[Nas Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MYSTERIOUS ITALIAN HOUSEGUEST by author Scarlet Wilson is a July 2017 release by Harlequin Romance series.

Portia Marlowe was spending time at a family property on a quiet island in Italy. She needed this time alone as her job was in jeopardy. She needed to come up with a celebrity news story fast.

In walked Hollywood star Javier Russo. He thought he would be alone at the villa. He certainly had no intention of sharing it with a reporter. But alone with Portia, he discovered her real personality and they gave in to their scorching chemistry. Then he discovered that she seemed to have leaked his personal anguish for the entire world to read.

Was her real personality which he had discovered fake after all? Or was she telling the truth that she loved him?

THE MYSTERIOUS ITALIAN HOUSEGUEST is a sweet and emotional story. A reader will be hooked from the very first page till the end in her quest to find out what happened next.

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.

[Julie Eichelberger-Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mysterious Italian Houseguest is a cute, fun read with a dash of drama. Javier Russo is an Italian movie star who is looking for a little peace and quiet while mourning the death of a childhood friend. Portia Marlowe is a Hollywood news reporter who is disenchanted with the whole lifestyle and is trying to figure out what she wants to do next. Both end up at a vacation home from their pasts and must figure out how to get along. The story that follows is an entertaining adventure with a little misunderstanding that finishes with a happy ever after.

[Pauline Destinugrainy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Portia dan Javier dipertemukan oleh Villa Rosa milik Sophia. Keduanya datang ke tempat itu mencari ketenangan.
Konfliknya dapat ditebak mengingat Javier adalah bintang film ternama sementara Portia adalah jurnalis entertainment. Dan penyelesaiannya terasa kilat.

[Susan in Perthshire]

The blurb was very misleading. I do hate it when publishers get it wrong. Luckily I still read the book and loved it!

This was simply delicious. A beautifully executed plot which brought together two very different but perfectly matched people and allowed them to get to know one another, fall in love and ultimately end up together. I would have preferred an epilogue set further in the future, showing how their lives developed and that’s the only reason it’s 4 and not 5 stars. The writing is simply fabulous.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was something about Portia that I thought I would dislike before reading this book. She seemed less vulnerable than her sister. However, both she and Javier showed their true selves on the island, and I really enjoyed their developing relationship.

This volume had a really quite sweet and satisfying conclusion.

Looking forward to the next instalment.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Summer at Villa Rosa