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One Scoop or Two #3
stracciatella gelato: melting time
Kate Buckthorn, a sixty-something woman in a predictable marriage, takes a day trip to Florence, Italy, to relive the months she spent there as a college art history student. After visiting all the familiar sights, she returns to her favorite gelato shop where she tosses some coins into the plastic cup of a Roma looking for change. And change is what she gets, literally. After enjoying her triple-scoop gelato, she leaves the shop, magically transformed into her twenty-three-year-old self. Does she stay in Florence and have a fling with a gorgeous Italian hottie, pursuing her painting career in the birthplace of the Renaissance? Or does she return to her unfaithful husband as her younger self?
Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 3, 2020
(6/3/2020) Goodreads review of Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time
I was provided with an ebook of this by Netgalley and Backlit PR (thank you!). This book is short and sweet (like gelato!).
The story is about Kate, an artist that is tired of the monotony of her life and being a third wheel to her own husband and someone named Simonetta. He’s patronizing and looks down upon her occupation (calling it a hobby). Who can blame her when she contemplated a new life after she magically turns young again and comes across a very handsome, smart, sweet Italian man named Lucca? A man that dotes on her, compliments her art, and not to mention is ~amazing~ in bed? Jackpot! But certain events transpire that forces Kate to put things into perspective.
I won’t spoil her choice but if I were to insert myself into her shoes, I probably would’ve run away with the hot Italian boy (if cheating wasn’t involved of course). I’m a total romantic so that sounds like an incredible situation and I loooove art history and Italy. But the one thing that throws a wrench in all of it is the fact that everything outside of Kate is still operating in real time. So it’s only her that’s become young. It’s a difficult moral choice she has to make: to live for herself or choose to stay with her family. So the “time-travel” aspect is unusual but is necessary to create the drama.
The writing style was fun and lively. It seemed that Kate, although older, had the mindset of her young self all this time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It makes me yearn for a passionate few weeks in Italy filled with sweet men and even sweeter gelato.
I was provided with an ebook of this by Netgalley and Backlit PR (thank you!). This book is short and sweet (like gelato!).
The story is about Kate, an artist that is tired of the monotony of her life and being a third wheel to her own husband and someone named Simonetta. He’s patronizing and looks down upon her occupation (calling it a hobby). Who can blame her when she contemplated a new life after she magically turns young again and comes across a very handsome, smart, sweet Italian man named Lucca? A man that dotes on her, compliments her art, and not to mention is ~amazing~ in bed? Jackpot! But certain events transpire that forces Kate to put things into perspective.
I won’t spoil her choice but if I were to insert myself into her shoes, I probably would’ve run away with the hot Italian boy (if cheating wasn’t involved of course). I’m a total romantic so that sounds like an incredible situation and I loooove art history and Italy. But the one thing that throws a wrench in all of it is the fact that everything outside of Kate is still operating in real time. So it’s only her that’s become young. It’s a difficult moral choice she has to make: to live for herself or choose to stay with her family. So the “time-travel” aspect is unusual but is necessary to create the drama.
The writing style was fun and lively. It seemed that Kate, although older, had the mindset of her young self all this time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It makes me yearn for a passionate few weeks in Italy filled with sweet men and even sweeter gelato.
May 27, 2020
A very short read, but definitely worth it! I love the idea of going back in time and reliving some of your best memories, which happened to be a college trip in her twenties in this book. A fun read! And I definitely want a scoop of gelato now.
April 21, 2020
Marilyn Baron takes readers on a magical mystery tour back to Florence of the 1970s in her newest story, a treat for anyone old enough to have ever wondered what might have been.
Sixty-something Kate Buckthorn accompanies her husband of many decades on a work trip to Rome, but he is soon distracted by business and, so Kate thinks, a certain Italian bombshell. That’s just as well since Kate hobbles off on her cane to take a train back to Firenze, the city of her youth. She’s hoping to catch glimmers of the girl she once was while seeing – probably for the last time – everything about Florence she has fantasized about for over 40 years.
A chance encounter with a Roma on the way to tasting the gelato she loved as a 23-year-old college student, however, serves up so much more than scoops of sweet memories. That’s because, in the birthplace of the Renaissance, Kate experiences an unimaginable rebirth that has her tossing aside her cane and every other timeworn shackle. Instantly, she is 23 again, replete with hope and health and, most wonderfully, her own young Italian heartthrob. Much later, once the lovely young woman learns she will soon be a grandmother, a return to reality is welcomed and wonderfully wrought in Baron's oh-so capable hands.
Just when nothing seems more appealing than a vacation anywhere at all, Baron offers a fun, sexy trip back to a time that is as entertaining as it is inspiring for us all.
Sixty-something Kate Buckthorn accompanies her husband of many decades on a work trip to Rome, but he is soon distracted by business and, so Kate thinks, a certain Italian bombshell. That’s just as well since Kate hobbles off on her cane to take a train back to Firenze, the city of her youth. She’s hoping to catch glimmers of the girl she once was while seeing – probably for the last time – everything about Florence she has fantasized about for over 40 years.
A chance encounter with a Roma on the way to tasting the gelato she loved as a 23-year-old college student, however, serves up so much more than scoops of sweet memories. That’s because, in the birthplace of the Renaissance, Kate experiences an unimaginable rebirth that has her tossing aside her cane and every other timeworn shackle. Instantly, she is 23 again, replete with hope and health and, most wonderfully, her own young Italian heartthrob. Much later, once the lovely young woman learns she will soon be a grandmother, a return to reality is welcomed and wonderfully wrought in Baron's oh-so capable hands.
Just when nothing seems more appealing than a vacation anywhere at all, Baron offers a fun, sexy trip back to a time that is as entertaining as it is inspiring for us all.
April 26, 2020
This little book is a fantasy all wrapped up in a gelato dream. A woman in her sixties, dissatisfied with her lengthy marriage, has a chance to revisit a setting of her early twenties in Florence, Italy—the place where she was happiest in times gone by. She doesn’t expect to be transformed into her twenties-self after entering what used to be her favorite gelato shop. Nor does she expect to meet a handsome young Italian on a motor bike, who is willing to explore Florence—and more—with her. Will her husband travel from Rome to track her down? Will she throw caution to the winds, stay in Florence, and remain twenty-three? Or will the ties of family and conscience work to break the magic spell? I won’t tell.
Which of us hasn’t dreamed of traveling back to a special time or a special place that’s lingered in our hearts and minds? Marilyn Baron takes us there in a very quick read, perfect for a cozy afternoon or evening, and a great distraction.
Which of us hasn’t dreamed of traveling back to a special time or a special place that’s lingered in our hearts and minds? Marilyn Baron takes us there in a very quick read, perfect for a cozy afternoon or evening, and a great distraction.
April 21, 2020
Laugh, dream and remember …
Marilyn Baron did it all in this book. This is a story of ‘what if’. What if I had a chance to do it again? What if I had chosen that guy? Is there something I missed?
Kate leaves her work-obsessed husband in Rome to visit Florence, Italy, for a day. She’d spent her college years there. With the help of her favorite gelato spot and a Roma’s spell, Kate is transported back to the twenty-something woman she’d been. She sees life and the city through those youthful eyes, even meeting her old boyfriend and falling in love again. It isn’t until she learns she is to be a grandmother that she questions returning to her real life. If she does, can she see and live it differently?
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting your youth this short story is for you. It has a number of laugh-out-loud moments, poignant ones and a life-affirming message. This story is well worth reading and leaves you with a happy feel.
Marilyn Baron did it all in this book. This is a story of ‘what if’. What if I had a chance to do it again? What if I had chosen that guy? Is there something I missed?
Kate leaves her work-obsessed husband in Rome to visit Florence, Italy, for a day. She’d spent her college years there. With the help of her favorite gelato spot and a Roma’s spell, Kate is transported back to the twenty-something woman she’d been. She sees life and the city through those youthful eyes, even meeting her old boyfriend and falling in love again. It isn’t until she learns she is to be a grandmother that she questions returning to her real life. If she does, can she see and live it differently?
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting your youth this short story is for you. It has a number of laugh-out-loud moments, poignant ones and a life-affirming message. This story is well worth reading and leaves you with a happy feel.
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April 25, 2020A very satisfying short story of a woman in her sixties with decisions to make. Given the opportunity to return to a happy time in your life would you stay there? Kathryn Buckthorn needs to balance what she has against what she's offered. Stracciatella immerses the reader into not only Kathryn's life but the atmosphere of Italy. A delicious treat. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2020
Second chances don’t come along every day.
Kate was such a likeable protagonist. She’d spent her entire life making responsible choices that gave her the highest chances of success. Her emotional stability and commitment to always doing the right thing only made her decisions in Florence more intriguing. Seeing a side of her personality that no one had caught a glimpse of in over forty years made me eager to find out how her adventures would end. There’s something so special about getting to know a protagonist this well, especially when they have good reasons for keeping certain parts of themselves tucked away somewhere private for so long.
The magical realism in the plot was handled beautifully. This was one of those stories that was perfectly poised in the intersection between the romance and fantasy genres. I couldn’t begin to pick only one of them to best describe it, so it only made sense that both of them mixed together into something that can’t be easily classified. Anyone who generally reads only one of these genres but is curious to try the other one should definitely consider starting here.
I loved the ending. Not only did it suit Kate’s personality perfectly, it left plenty of room for readers to come up with their own theories about the portions of the storyline that weren’t tied up neatly by the final scene. There were so many different ways to interpret it that I was delighted by the thought that I could pick the one that I thought best fit what we learned about the main character and the magical things she’d experienced during her trip.
Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time was a whimsical tale that made me smile.
Kate was such a likeable protagonist. She’d spent her entire life making responsible choices that gave her the highest chances of success. Her emotional stability and commitment to always doing the right thing only made her decisions in Florence more intriguing. Seeing a side of her personality that no one had caught a glimpse of in over forty years made me eager to find out how her adventures would end. There’s something so special about getting to know a protagonist this well, especially when they have good reasons for keeping certain parts of themselves tucked away somewhere private for so long.
The magical realism in the plot was handled beautifully. This was one of those stories that was perfectly poised in the intersection between the romance and fantasy genres. I couldn’t begin to pick only one of them to best describe it, so it only made sense that both of them mixed together into something that can’t be easily classified. Anyone who generally reads only one of these genres but is curious to try the other one should definitely consider starting here.
I loved the ending. Not only did it suit Kate’s personality perfectly, it left plenty of room for readers to come up with their own theories about the portions of the storyline that weren’t tied up neatly by the final scene. There were so many different ways to interpret it that I was delighted by the thought that I could pick the one that I thought best fit what we learned about the main character and the magical things she’d experienced during her trip.
Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time was a whimsical tale that made me smile.
June 1, 2020
I love Florence, Italy, I love gelato, and I love the idea of becoming my 23 year old self again – if only for a few days. In this novella, Kate, who is now in her late sixties, is in a predictable, unexciting marriage where her husband no longer gives her the emotional or physical support she craves. A trip to Florence has her revisiting her college haunts when she had studied abroad, while her husband is otherwise occupied with business meetings. Feeling glum, she stops for a gelato, encounters a gypsy, and a bit of magic happens.
Escaping into a fantasy, complete with a hot Italian biker and the artistry of Florence, is what reading a good romance is all about. Bravo, Ms. Baron.
Escaping into a fantasy, complete with a hot Italian biker and the artistry of Florence, is what reading a good romance is all about. Bravo, Ms. Baron.
April 29, 2020
Intrigued by the premise of this delightful short story, I set aside an evening to read it. An excellent storyteller, Ms. Baron excels at descriptive detail. I could easily imagine visiting Florence and immersing myself in its culture. As for the ‘What If’ scenario…I had no problem imagining a younger Kathryn Buckthorn emerge, toss aside her cane, and connect with a young Italian heartthrob.
A perfect distraction in this time of COVID-19.
A perfect distraction in this time of COVID-19.
July 5, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Hmmm I found this short story to be odd, just odd. I just didn't get this, Jason and Kate both did odd things I felt. Midlife crisis? Wasn't time travel she just reverts to a 23 year old? Weird. Not for me 2.5 stars
June 4, 2020
This book almost has it all! A kick-ass female main character, a lovely, sweet and interesting love interest, a house full of weirdos, a nice aesthetic, interesting family dynamics,
July 20, 2020
This was a quick easy read, about capturing youth again and making peace with growing and being older. Enjoyed the novella.
September 1, 2021
A different type of story. Kate , an older woman, gets a chance to go back in time. I absolutely loved this book.
May 23, 2021
Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time by Marilyn Baron made me smile, made me swoon, and made me think. I love books, like Melting Time, which stick with me after I close them. Kate gets the chance to remake one of her decisions from her twenties when a Roma lady in a Florence, Italy gelato shop gives her a little magic. The descriptions are as delicious as the gelato and I was transported to Florence with Kate. Her mature persona was so exquisitely written I felt every aching step and disappointment when her body couldn’t keep up with her twenty-something’s schedule. When her body was transformed, I cheered. No matter which life she chose, I was on Team Kate all the way.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel without leaving their seat. Marilyn Baron will transport you to Florence and to the one decision in the back of your mind which makes you wonder ‘what if’.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel without leaving their seat. Marilyn Baron will transport you to Florence and to the one decision in the back of your mind which makes you wonder ‘what if’.
June 18, 2020
Marilyn Baron's light, fun fantasy read with an Italian accent, just what I was in the mood for.
Gelato, a cute, hot Italian guy, what could be better?
I enjoyed every mouthful of this tasty treat. Short, sweet, and fun traipsing around the city of Florence remembering my favorite haunts. (I was twenty-one, and the world was so different.)
A lovely read.
Even better with a little Chianti.
Gelato, a cute, hot Italian guy, what could be better?
I enjoyed every mouthful of this tasty treat. Short, sweet, and fun traipsing around the city of Florence remembering my favorite haunts. (I was twenty-one, and the world was so different.)
A lovely read.
Even better with a little Chianti.
July 14, 2020
A what if? fable with ice cream
What if you could back to your youth to a romantic place...say, Florence, Italy knowing everything you know now?
Kate is a woman of a certain age in a predictable marriage...who of us hasn't wondered what if?
Would you do what Kate does? any of it? All of it?
What if you could go back in time and enjoy a tryst with a sexy Italian?
What if you could back to your youth to a romantic place...say, Florence, Italy knowing everything you know now?
Kate is a woman of a certain age in a predictable marriage...who of us hasn't wondered what if?
Would you do what Kate does? any of it? All of it?
What if you could go back in time and enjoy a tryst with a sexy Italian?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews