Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello

Tuscan Dreams #2

by Daisy James

Escape to Villa Limoncello… where dreams come true in the most unexpected ways.

Izzie Jenkins never expected to find herself living in a gorgeous oasis in Tuscany but when life gives you Villa Limoncello you say thank you and bake treats to celebrate!

Izzie and debonair chef Luca Castelotti are officially setting up shop together but when their inaugural ‘Pasta and Painting’ venture is sabotaged and one of their guests poisoned they’re forced to turn detective. Because if they can’t find the culprit, they’ll be out of business before they’ve even begun...

A gorgeous holiday read perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Jenny Oliver

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2019

About the author

Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plot-lines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink.

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.

Reviews

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Sabotage*

This is book 2 of 3 in the ‘Tuscan Dreams’ series
I liked how each chapter has a colour theme which is entwined into the story such as

*Chapter One Villa Limoncello, San Vivaldo Colour: Sunshine*

This theme was all the way through the first and second book so I expect the same in the last of the trilogy.

In this instalment Izzie and the handsome chef Luca are teaming up after the surprise announcement in the previous book when the owner of the villa is revealed. They have decided to host a ‘Pasta and Painting’ course and being that this is the first time they have held their own venture at the Villa, Lizzie who is a continual list maker tries her best to leave nothing to chance. From super deep cleaning the kitchen, surfaces etc she also plans in some beautiful places for their guests to find inspiration for their painting sessions, combined with Luca showing them how to make fresh pasta and different dishes. It all sounds amazing but what could possibly go wrong???

Well, sabotage in the form of someone getting poisoned. The food is blamed and because Lizzie and her team know that they have done everything right to the letter, quietly Izzie and Luca turn their hands at becoming amateur detectives. With their livelihoods at stake, in the shape of Luca’s restaurant and the fate of the villa if the authorities get involved, this made for a lovely, easy read, I could just smell the lemons coming out of my kindle as the Villa and of course Italy is famous for limoncello.

At the end of the book all Luca’s recipes are included

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Izzie Jenkins travels back to Tuscany, to beautiful Villa Limoncello and she’s not ready to return home to Cornwall. Her new group ride Vespas, quickly navigating their way around the winding roads and all make it safely to the Villa. They have signed up for a week of making pasta, painting and relaxing in the Tuscan sunshine.

Tom, Hannah, Beth and Carmen are the new guests, unfortunately one of them feels unwell and Izzie discovers a hidden bottle of laxatives? Both Izzie and Chef Luca Castelotti are extremely concerned, was it a simple mistake or is someone trying to poison one of the guests. The last thing they want, is the police to be called and the health department at the villa.

Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello by Daisy James is a short and light mystery, Izzie manages to narrow down the suspects, finds out who's responsible, no police required and she receives a surprise visit at the end of the book. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review, a very quick read and three stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

How wonderful it was to be back at the Villa Limoncello, only a few weeks after the previous book ends. Izzie and Luca are embarking on their first week long course to help make the Villa profitable, and the course featured in this book is Painting and Pasta.

So expect even more delicious sounding Italian food descriptions, which Daisy James is so good at. There are even recipes at the back for if you are inspired to try out the various pasta's yourself.

Believe it or not though at the heart of this book is a mystery, that had me stumped, after all there are 4 all equally likely culprits, as to who caused Carmen's "food poisoning". I loved seeing how Izzie and Luca tried to turn into amateur detectives - what can I say about that to them, other than don't give up your day jobs!

As we get to know Carmen and her friends, it is clear Carmen isn't portrayed as the most likeable of people, although she grew on me towards the end, but to think that one of her close friends or colleagues had deliberately made her ill, well I can see why all of them would want to.

As we get to know Tom. Beth, Zara and Hannah we discover just what each of them is hiding, and how as a group none of them seem to know about the other's problems.

There is just so much to love about this book and series, that I would urge you to read them yourself and discover their goodness for yourself. This is a wonderful summer holiday read, it will transport you to the heat of Tuscany, tantalise your taste-buds, inspire your creativity with the painting suspects, and there is even a bit of local sight seeing too.

I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book in the series, as Villa Limoncello and its characters has found a firm place in my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

[Skyesmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Wedding at Villa Limoncello very much and was pleased to see how Luca and Izzie`s relationship was going.
Its STILL smouldering and I am actually quite liking the fact that they haven't jumped into bed yet.
I love the sound of the food, the area and just the whole thing.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens next at Villa Limoncello.

Thanks to NetGalley, Debbie James and Canelo

[Eeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from the Publisher for an honest review.

I definitely liked this one better than the book one, but unfortunately it still falls a bit flat.
I enjoyed the "mystery" part but that's about it. The writing is not ideal and the characters are not memorable at all.
Personally I got a but annoyed when I read about "potato gnocchi". Gnocchi are usually made of potatoes, so it's like saying buttery butter or idk wet water. You only put an adjective if it's unusual, like ricotta gnocchi or polenta gnocchi.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really been looking forward to this novel ever since I saw it was uploaded on Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first novel in the series but couldn't wait for this one as the synopsis just drew me in completely! As well as the synopsis, the cover absolutely caught my eye and I couldn't wait to get stuck in. It's possibly the most beautiful cover I have ever seen! I love the bright blue sky, with the shimmering sea underneath and the pretty flowers surrounding the cover. It all looks stunning and makes me want to visit the location immediately - I just wish I was reading this novel whilst lounging by the sea/pool - instead of in England!!!

I fell in love with this novel as soon as I started reading it. I absolutely loved the location, every description of the land and setting had me wishing to book a flight to Tuscany, and every description of the delicious food that Luca cooked had my mouth watering. I really enjoyed the characters as well, it was clear that Izzie had been through a lot but it was really nice seeing her come out of her shell a little bit with every page. It was also lovely to be reading about Luca and Izzie's blossoming romance. It was interesting to see where that was going to go.

This is possibly my favourite novel by Daisy James so far. I just felt like I related to the main character, Izzie, and loved the venture they were starting up with the 'Pasta and Painting' courses. It was so elegantly written, and I just fell in love with the story as well as the location. As well as main character Izzie, I also really liked Meghan's character and the holiday makers who are there for a team building exercise. This is no usual romance novel however, as there's a bit of mystery included too which makes it even more interesting. I couldn't wait to read about who was the person responsible for Carmen's 'poisoning'! It was just unputdownable from the first page.

Overall, an amazingly lighthearted summer read. Perfect to welcome in these hotter days. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant romantic mystery packed with suspects, tasty Italian food, a fabulous setting and great characters. It is the second book in the Tuscan Dreams series and starts just weeks after the events which ended the first book. Izzie and Luca have organised and are hosting a week long course involving Painting and Pasta, the first of many they hope will help make the Villa a profitable enterprise.

Get ready for some mouth watering descriptions of food and drink but take care as one of the participants in the course, Carmen, ends up with suspected food poisoning! The problem is, it isn't easy to ascertain just how it happened and there are too many potential suspects! It certainly kept me turning the pages as I tried to identify the culprit along with Izzie and Luca. Carmen is definitely not the most liked character and it is easy to see why any of them might wish to harm her, but as the story progresses each of the suspects is shown to be hiding some secret that none of the others are aware of. As these are revealed, the mystery deepens!

If you want reminding of summer or a tasty mystery in a delectable setting, look no further. This is a fantastic read and part of a fabulous series to read whatever the season and one that I have no hesitation in highly recommending. There are even some tasty recipes for you to try at the end of the book!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Isabella May · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treat!

Having read the first book in this series, and then subsequently having holidayed in Tuscany in the summer, I couldn't wait to read this, the next installment... alas a house move and work got in the way! But this week (thanks to the lurgy!) I have finally found the time - and what a sunny, yummy pick me up it's been. The author sets the sightseeing and foodie scene with her usual panache, the characters are great - you'll root for some whilst wanting to slap others. There's romance, naturally... but there's also an intriguing tot of mystery to boot. A brilliant read!

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read the first book in this series, and so I felt like I was missing out on a little bit. Even so, this author writes well and I loved being transported into the gorgeous Italian landscape. I liked how each chapter started with a location - "garden," "pergola," "gazebo" - and a color - "peacock green," "dusky magnolia," "damson plum." I also liked the Agatha Christie-like ending to the mystery. On the whole, this was a lovely, quick read. Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved being back at Villa Limoncello, it’s such a happy summer read, I was able to jump right back in and it felt like I’d never left. Back with the adorable Izzie and Luca and I can’t air for even more books from Daisy. Her books are full of fun, but also heart and relatable but loveable characters.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The perfect summer read. It’s not your usual chick-lit which always follows a basic pattern ending in romance as the couples are already ‘coupled’. Instead there’s a wonderful twist of mystery and uncovering a saboteur which works brilliantly. A definite feel good sunshine book.

[Jasmine Wathey-Boot · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get into the book or storyline . the last 3 chapters I enjoyed but the story was wrapping up

[Susannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be a really warming, comforting read. It was very repetitive, half way through the book could have been the first couple of chapters all over again and again. It made the book frustrating, slow, and laboursome. It did make me. I wish I could take a beautiful trip to Tuscany, though, for a week of how the book should have read. Lovely idea. I just wish I had been an editor on this project.

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading book one in the Tuscan Dreams series, Wedding Bells at Villa Limoncello, so when the opportunity arose to request the ARC from Netgalley for book two, Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello, I jumped at the chance. These books are so evocative of the sights and smells of Tuscany, and it’s very easy to feel completely transported to this location. As a foodie, this book is incredible, it left me craving Italian food like nothing else! There are even recipes in the back to recreate some of the recipes mentioned in the story.

The main protagonists are Izzie and her love interest and sexy chef, Luca. This book follows on a few weeks after the end of the first book, and it’s wonderful to watch as their relationship slowly develops, although their relationship is not the main focus of the book. In order to financially support their decision to keep the villa, they decide to run their first workshop week, Painting and Pasta, in which Izzie will teach their customers to paint, while Luca will teach them how to make their own pasta.

The customers who come are Carmen, a former model and now fashion designer, her friend Beth, her friend and model Zara, her personal assistant Hannah and her accountant Tom. It is fascinating to see the dynamics between the five of them, and when Carmen appears to have been given food poisoning as a deliberate act, all four of her friends and colleagues seem to have personal justifications for wanting to do it. Izzie and Luca decide to act as sleuths, to find out who did it, because otherwise it could appear that Luca’s cooking was responsible, and that could damage not only the future of the villa, but also his reputation as a chef and restaurateur. It is clear from their sleuthing that they should probably stick to their day jobs! I did enjoy this aspect of the story, the mystery element where everyone is a suspect, and each one is eliminated in turn before finding out who did it and why.

I found the book utterly charming, and it was lovely to see familiar faces from ‘Wedding Bells’. This is a perfect summer read, and if you haven’t already read ‘Wedding Bells’ and you have a vacation coming up, get both, and be transported to the cerulean blue skies of the Tuscan countryside, and the lemons of Villa dei Limoni.

I am so looking forward to being transported back to Villa Limoncello for Christmas in Book 3.

[Fay Flude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was as tasty as Luca Castelotti's pasta dishes, as mouth watering as Oriana's sweet treats, as beautifully arranged as Francesca's flowers and of course as inspiring as Izzie Jenkins' paintings!
Welcome to Villa Limoncello, the rustic farmhouse in Tuscany where Izzie and friends are running a Pasta and Painting course for top fashion designer Carmen and her motley entourage.
A delightfully easy read, with short chapters and the most marvellous palette themed headings, this is the perfect romantic read for a hot summer's day. The landscape is inviting, the food references delicious (with recipes at the end of the book too!) and the characters very charming.
But all is not totally idyllic at Villa Limoncello as Carmen is struck down with what appears to be food poisoning on the very first day. Distraught and desperate to save the villa's reputation and secure more bookings for the future, Izzie and love interest chef Luca don their deerstalkers to become amateur sleuths, learning more about their guests as they seek to establish how Carmen fell ill and why.
I was able to travel to Italy and soak up the cultural references without leaving my armchair, and although this is NOT a thriller, this feel good read had the element of a cozy mystery, which I could not solve!
I enjoyed this book, number 2 in the Tuscan series, so much, that I have now purchased books 1 and 3 to devour.
Thank you to Daisy James, who signed this book and gave it to me for my holiday account of killer shrimps!

[Linda O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I really enjoyed the second book of this series.
Are they ever going to get a smooth ride at Villa Limoncello? There always seems to be a crisis going on.
This time Izzie & Luca have decided to host their first painting & pasta course, to a team building week for Carmen, a fashion designer & her entourage.
But Izzie & Luca take on more than they bargained for, when Carmen ends up ill on her first day at the villa, but everyone else is ok.
Food poisoning is suspected, but Izzie & Luca are not so sure, as they've gone out of their way to make sure everything is just so.
However, Carmen is threatening to notify the authorities that she got food poisoning.
This would have repercussions not only for the villa, but also for Lucas' restaurant. So Izzie & Luca are trying their best to get to the bottom of the problem.
Izzie suspects that it is probably one of the group who has caused Carmens' illness. But who?
Gradually bit by bit, the clues reveal themselves & it's not until almost the end of the book we find out what happened & why.
I certainly didn't work out who did it & why.
Well worth the read.
Plenty more characters & storyline to this book. Enjoy!
I hope in Daisy's next book of this series, that things go smoother for Izzie & Luca at the villa.

[Sally Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzie and Luca are all set to run their first art and cooking course at the Villa Limoncello and their budding romance is gently smouldering in the background. When their first guests arrive however things will not run smoothly when the leader of the group of friends and colleagues becomes ill and food poisoning is suspected. Determined to prove that their food is not at fault Izzie and Luca try to turn detective and find out who would have the motive to want to poison her........ unfortunately they all seem to have motive so can they prove who it is and clear their name or will their business fall at the first hurdle!

A lovely story following on from Wedding Bells at Villa Limoncello and it was lovely to catch up with Izzie and Luca and see how they were getting on, and the story had plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep you guessing who the culprit was, all set in the beautiful hills of Tuscany

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series, it was great to see where the story was going to go next and it completely evoked the beautiful Tuscan scenery with all its colours, scents and sounds. The mystery element of the story kept me guessing to the end. and gave the romcom a different angle as each of the guests proved to have something to hide. With Izzie and Luca's romance on a slow fuse, there is plenty more to be found at the villa for subsequent books. I loved it as a light, holiday read to wallow in. The recipes at the end are a bonus!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book.

[Jane F Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rekindling Tuscan memories.

Having lost my heart to Italy, Tuscany in particular around 8 years ago on my first trip overseas, this book has brought back all the wonderful memories of our time there. Visiting all the surrounding villages and towns, Florence, San Gimignano, Assisi to name a few. But memories of cooking with 'the Nonna' for 3 straight nights, just the 2 of us, was rekindled while reading Summer Dreams at Villa Limoncello. And to have the lovely surprise of the recipes at the end.....thank you!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always happy to spend time at Villa Limoncello as it's a place that makes me feel good and smile.
I had a lot of fun reading this book, it was perfect for the lazy summer afternoon and made me crave the be there.
I appreciated the plot, the characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading the next book by Ms James.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy set in Tuscany! Lizzie and Luca (what a pair!) are working together on new venture for the villa- a pasta and painting course. Unfortunately, a villain shows up and Carmen is poisoned (don't worry). OF course, Carmen is not the nicest person in the world but the other guests, well one of them is not who they seem to be (no spoilers). It's light and good for a beach read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh- and there are recipes!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me forever. Or it felt like it. I think it was a mistake on my part. This is the second book in a trilogy and I should have read the first one first as I didn't feel the characters had any depth. It's not a bad read just not one that I got excited about. There is a little romance, a little mystery and you do get to go on trips around Tuscany. And if you are a cook then you will enjoy being able to replicate the recipes that are taught in the cooking class.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing tale set against an amazing backdrop of Italy scenery. The book features characters you can love and hate with the added bonus of ‘who dunnit’. I haven’t read the first book in the series and it did get referred to quite a lot which became quite tiresome. Overall a good summer read but probably worth starting with the first book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley.

[Gail Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet again we find ourselves in Tuscany with some familiar characters, the story continues to flow; although this book could be a stand alone as there is some recapping.
The description of the area is great but the description to detail regarding the food makes you crave pasta.
Another great, light easy read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful Romance with a Mystery Twist

Daisy James has done it again, creating a perfect read for anytime you want to get lost in a delightful romance. With unforgettable characters who are intricately detailed and a light mystery that keeps you turning the pages to solve the mystery.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art and more

Loved the second volume in this series just as much as the first. Izzy is coming to.terms with her past, and hosting a Painting and Pasta course at the villa. But despite her organizational skills, not everything goes to plan. Another triumph from Daisy James, and I'm moving straight on to book three.

[Vikkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing me an ARC of this book. The cover attracted my interest immediately. This is a delightful and cute read. I certainly wasn’t disappointed with this book.
I highly recommend people check it out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was looking forward to catching up with Izzie in this one. This is a great holiday read for any time of the year. I couldn’t help but try to picture the setting in my head as I was reading.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Received from a Netgalley for an honest review)

I don’t mind cozy mysteries but this read very young. The mystery was a bit contrived and some of the clues were just far fetched. Ok most of them were. Wasn’t my favorite but it was cute.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute but cheesy. Really way too easy to figure out. None of the characters were very deep or interesting, so while it was a quick and easy read, it's not one I'll read again.