Да се срещнем във Венеция

by Barbara Hannay, Барбара Ханей

Една година след трагичната загуба на съпруга си Дейзи кани трите им пораснали деца на почивка във Венеция. Ще бъде отново както преди – всички заедно в родния град на баща им, Лео.

Обаче... Бракът на Марк се разпада. И за да не провали жадуваното от майка му събиране, той убеждава съпругата си да се преструват, че всичко е наред. Анна пък крие провала на актьорската си кариера. А Ели е твърдо решена да отбягва разговорите за постъпване в университет.

Сред очарованието на тесните калдъръмени улички, мостчетата и романтичните канали на Венеция нервите на всички са опънати до краен предел. А шокираща тайна от миналото на Лео ги кара да преосмислят представите си за семейството, любовта и щастието.

Ще успеят ли Дейзи и децата й да приемат промените, които са настъпили с всички тях? Под лъчите на адриатическото слънце те се изправят пред съдбовен избор, който ще преобърне живота им.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Audiobook, Italy

328 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2019

About the author

Multi award winning author, Barbara Hannay, is a city bred girl with a yen for country life. Most of her 50 plus books are set in rural and outback Australia and they've been enjoyed by readers around the world.

Barbara has been nominated five times for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award which she won in 2007 and she has twice won Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award.

In her own version of life imitating art, Barbara and her husband currently live on a misty hillside in beautiful Far North Queensland where they keep heritage pigs, hens, ducks, turkeys and an untidy but productive garden.

Visit Barbara's website at www.barbarahannay.com
Follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy's loss of her husband Leo still gutted her after twelve months, but she was feeling herself come back to life finally. She decided, impulsively, to invite her three adult children to spend two weeks together in Venice, the home of Leo's birth. Marc and his wife Bronte lived in Silicon Valley in the US; Anna was in London following her acting dreams, and Ellie, Daisy's youngest, was still at home on a gap year. She was so looking forward to having her children around her, fulfilling a promise Leo had made to take Daisy to Venice to see his beginnings.

But each had secrets they decided they wouldn't let their mother know about. This was for her, Venice would help with the grieving, and she didn't need to know about her children's problems. When a name from Leo's long ago past was mentioned, Daisy knew it was time to confront her demons, and Leo's past. What would it do to her family? What would it do to her? Daisy had trusted Leo, and couldn't believe he'd kept secrets from her...

Meet Me in Venice by Aussie author Barbara Hannay was a wonderful, heartwarming read which I loved. It's been on my bookshelf since I bought it in 2019 - I'm so glad I've read it now. All the characters were perfectly crafted, different yet all loved their mother dearly, and missed their father dreadfully. Venice was a balm to their souls, the family get together bumpy, but perfect. Highly recommended.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year after her husband Leo’s death, Daisy wants to gather her adult family together for a time in Venice. Venice is where Leo was born, but he never felt inclined to talk much of his time there after he left it as a young man. Daisy’s eldest Marc has serious doubts about the wisdom of this enterprise especially since he and wife Bronte are currently separated. His mother doesn’t know that and wants both of them to come. Marc doesn’t want to disappoint his mother. Anna, an actress in London, also has doubts about the holiday project. She doesn’t want her mother to discover that Anna is not the raging acting success she has always believed her to be. Ellie, the youngest, feels under pressure to make decisions about her future when all she wants is a gap year to think things through and maybe travel. Despite their reservations all agree to go. But will it be the family holiday of Daisy’s dreams? Or will the family secrets plus a secret from Leo’s past derail her holiday hopes?
Daisy is a warm and generous family oriented woman. It is not hard to understand why Bronte has more than a few issues with her husband and his work focused life, but I love that Bronte is so fond of her mother in law that she agrees for Daisy’s sake to pretend the marriage is okay. At least until the end of the holiday. Anna and Ellie are also likable.
Those who are familiar with Barbara Hannay’s stories will find the change of scene from her sural rural Queensland setting interesting. I never normally read books set in Venice but this is written by Barbara Hannay and I can usually depend on her for a great read. So I decided to give it a go. I am glad I did. The setting is well conveyed. It is obvious the author finds Venice a romantic and charming city. On that the author and I are going to have to agree to disagree, but that didn’t stop me enjoying the story and getting caught in the lives of the characters. The ending is neatly wrapped up and makes for a satisfactory conclusion.
A story of family, love, secrets and choices this one got me in from the start. It moves along at a good pace with a couple of surprises thrown in. I enjoyed it. Once again this author did not fail to captivate. Fans of Barbara Hannay’s work will enjoy it and those new to this author, will I am sure come back for more. An interesting and engaging family focused story, I would recommend this as a great read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully beautiful story, with an awesome setting I have never been to Venice but I feel as if I have had a trip there, now that I have been with the Benetto family. The old saying is so true that no matter how old your children are a mother never stop worrying about them, when the Benetto family lose a much loved husband and father, Daisy wife and mother decides that she would like all of her family to have a holiday together in the city that their beloved father Leo was born in, Venice. I do hope that you will join the family in their trip that shows the ups and downs of a family and uncover a secret that could rock the family.

When Daisy gets her three children together there is sure to be some highs and lows and as she discovers something that could cause some major problems just before they leave Daisy is a little apprehensive but very much looking forward to the trip, she loved her husband dearly and misses him terribly, but she also needs to uncover the truth about his secret.

Eldest son Marc and his wife Bronte live in Silicon Valley California and when they arrive in Venice everyone can see that there are problems in their marriage, will this trip pull them together or tear them apart.

Annie lives in London doing everything she can to become an actor, the life that she has wanted since she was a small child, but things are tough on the acting scene in London and Annie is struggling with what she wants to do.

Ellie has decided to have a gap year after her last year in high school and is not sure what she really wants to do, but being with her older siblings who are successful she is feeling pressured a little.

When a family comes together for a holiday there is always sure to be a few problems no matter how much they care for each other and these three children love and worry about their mother and all of them are doing their best to make this trip work, but in the end a mother knows and together they work through their issues with love and caring and when the secret really tests them they stick together. I truly loved this story from page one and I highly recommend it, thank you MS Hannay you really bought this family to life on the pages the emotions and feelings are so real.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Me in Venice is a lovely, heartfelt story from multi-award-winning author, Barbara Hannay.

A year after the sudden death of her beloved husband, Daisy Benetto can think of no better place for a family reunion than Venice, the place of Leo’s birth. While Daisy and her youngest daughter, nineteen year old Ellie, will fly in from their home in Queensland, Australia, oldest son Marc, and his wife, will be traveling from California’s Silicon Valley, and Anna from London, where she has been trying to launch her career as an actress.

Hannay has created a loving, ordinary family in Meet Me in Venice with whom most readers will relate. Daisy is a warm, caring mother who is proud of her children, and her children clearly adore her in return. I thought the dynamics of the sibling relationships rang true, with the rivalries and role playing that often carry into adulthood.

Daisy’s children all want her to have a wonderful time in Venice and so are determined not to worry her with their own problems, but that’s not easy in such close quarters when tensions sit so close to the surface. The strain only increases when the family learns that Leo kept a secret from them all which threatens to undermine what they thought they knew of the husband and father they admired. I really liked the way in which Hannay dealt with all of these varied issues and the way in which they were resolved.

Hannay‘s novels are usually set in rural Australia but this is set almost wholly in Venice. It’s such an appealing city and the descriptions of its historic architecture, delicious cuisine and rich culture enhance the enjoyment of the story.

A captivating story about family, love and life’s journey, Meet Me in Venice is an engaging and enjoyable read.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘A story comes together from so many different sources. I’m grateful to a writer friend who told me about a widow she knew who dipped into her husband’s investments to bring her scattered family together for a gathering in Europe. Immediately my imagination was set spinning.’

Barbara Hannay, Acknowledgments, Meet Me in Venice

Barbaba Hannay is well known for her Mills & Boon romance titles, which she has over forty to her name. Hannay has also published eight full length novels of the rural and historical fiction genres for Penguin. Hannay has set her sights further afield with her latest contemporary fiction family drama novel. The unique setting of Venice is the backdrop for the revelation and fallout of a family mystery in, Meet Me in Venice.

The Benettos are an ordinary family, a year ago they lost the patriarch of their fold, Leo. Daisy, Leo’s widow, believes that a year on from her husband’s death is the ideal time to call on her dispersed family and gather them together in Venice for a holiday. This beautiful European locale holds meaning for the family, as it was Leo’s birthplace. However, the Benetto clan has more than their fair share of personal dramas. One son is experiencing marriage difficulties, and he chooses to put on a veneer of happiness to protect his grieving mother. Meanwhile, Daisy’s daughter Anna is experiencing a career crisis. Finally, young Ellie is lost, torn between what she wants to do and what she should do in relation to her future. All these personal issues compound in the picturesque locale. When a devastating secret that Leo has withheld from the family surfaces during their holiday, it will force all members of this family unit to consider their views on marriage, love, personal sacrifice, loyalty and honour. What began as a laid back family vacation and an opportunity to regroup, morphs into something much more emotionally pressing in the floating city.

Like many of us who have travelled to Venice, a one of kind cosmopolitan city in Europe, this breathtaking locale stole author Barbara Hannay’s heart. The romance, the history, the architecture, the culture, cuisine and the people enchanted the author of Meet Me in Venice. With an idea for a story percolating for a few years now, Barbara Hannay took the bold move and penned a tale based in this romantic locale, which is quite a shift away from her usual Australian novels. I appreciated the sea change and I could see Hannay’s passion for this location shine through her novel. I raced through Meet Me in Venice in two close sittings, as I was completely engaged by the personal dramas of the Benetto clan.

Grief and loss defines the earlier stages of Meet Me in Venice, as Daisy, the matriarch of this tale, expresses her feelings about being left rather unexpectedly by her husband Leo. Daisy remarks on the missed opportunities for them to celebrate their retirement together and her frustration in not being able to catch his health crisis earlier. However, Daisy is determined to bring all of her children back to her nest and she sets about planning a beautiful holiday in Venice, her husband’s birthplace. In these opening sequences of the book we get a really good feel for Daisy – who she is, her qualities, her desires and her emotions. I developed a soft spot for Daisy very quickly and I enjoyed her life defining trip to Venice.

Daisy’s children – Marc, Anna and Ellie, along with their partners provide another layer to this story, reminding us that this is not just Daisy’s journey. Hannay employs some solid characterisation to the Benetto clan, so we develop a relationship with each of the family members of this unit. We also begin to understand more about their personal frustrations and the baggage each brings to the Venice trip. We watch on as the dynamics and tensions of this family bubbles to the surface, which is further complicated by the explosive secret surrounding their late father. Hannay works hard at weaving this life changing secret through the threads of this novel. It sent me in a flurry of excitement and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to get to the crux of this mystery. Once I discovered the truth, along with the Benetto family, I was a little surprised. I will remain hush, hush on the rest!

The best thing about Meet Me in Venice was definitely the setting base. I visited Venice for two days as part of an organised European tour, over a decade ago now. The memories came flooding back while I read Meet Me in Venice. I appreciated being immersed in the stunning buildings, historic locales, the local cuisine and of course, that strong feeling that you could get lost at any time in this maze like city! Hannay’s vivid descriptions transported me right back to one of the world’s most sought after destinations.

A rich tapestry of romance, family secrets and complicated personal dilemmas forms Meet Me in Venice. The opportunity to be whisked away to such an inviting European destination, in the protection of the Benetto family fold, worked wonders for me. I have not hesitation in recommending Meet Me in Venice.

*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

Meet Me in Venice is book #123 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Joanne Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice novel about the importance of family and the importance of communication. An added bonus the author knows Venice extremely well.

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

arbara Hannay is one of my favourite Australian authors and a new novel from her is always a cause for celebration. In this one we mostly leave Australian shores for Venice. Widow Daisy has decided to undertake the trip that she and her late husband Leo would’ve taken in his retirement and shout her three kids a trip to Venice, the place of Leo’s birth. Given that her family are spread quite far and wide – son Marc in Silicon Valley, middle daughter Anna in London, it gives them a chance not to just catch up but to spend some real quality time together as well. She doesn’t really know that Marc has separated from his wife Bronte and that Anna’s career in London has stalled and neither of the two offspring want to tell her. Daisy has struggled since Leo’s death and they both can tell that this Venice trip is something that excites her enormously, gives her back her spark. Youngest child Ellie has just finished year 12 and doesn’t know what she wants out of life, unlike both her ambitious siblings, which often leaves her feeling a bit the odd one out.

I really enjoyed this book on a lot of levels. I actually connected to more of the characters than I thought I would, surprisingly I found myself being able to identify quite strongly with Ellie, who is half my age but I’ve talked before about how I’ve never really felt like I knew what I wanted to ‘do’ in life. That I’ve never had that drawing towards a career like others have, who immediately know what they want and go after it. Or fall into something they’re excellent at. It’s probably especially harder when there’s siblings who went before you and managed to make successes of themselves, which is what Ellie feels. She is younger by a decent amount than her older siblings and I think sometimes it more feels like they’re distant relatives rather than her brother and sister. After all both live overseas and probably have done for most of her high school years. There’s definitely a little bit of distance and Ellie seems reluctant to talk to them about her lack of ideas, her need to take a break to figure things out.

I found myself really invested in the story of Marc, the oldest child who was pushed to always do his best. He ended up in Silicon Valley working crippling days trying to keep up with everyone else there and it’s about to cost him everything, including his marriage. Marc and Bronte met at university and she moved to America with him although her Visa prevents her from working so she’s been left on her own for long hours day and night while Marc works. Even when he’s there, he’s not really present as he’s checking his emails and squeezing in more work. Bronte has basically had enough and only her fondness for Marc’s mother has her agreeing to go on the trip and pretend everything is still fine so that they can find a way to gently break the news to her in person. The forced proximity is extremely difficult for them both and it makes them really think about what they want, what is important and how much should you be willing to sacrifice for a job. I really liked this because a lot of the time I do read about people just getting together but there’s less about marriages that are going through difficulties and how you make it work when things change, say from the more laid back days of uni to juggling jobs, especially very demanding jobs.

There’s a bit of a mystery running through this book as well – Daisy discovers something puzzling before they arrive in Venice, and then once there, they visit some remaining family of Leo’s who also drop a bit of a bombshell that rocks them all. I really enjoyed the way this played out and how it took an unexpected turn, which I appreciated. I also got a chance to enjoy Venice as a setting…..funnily enough I’ve not read a whole lot set in Venice and a lot of what I’ve read is more historical fiction, so it was good to visit it in a modern way. There was a little about the issue of tourism in Venice as well, which I feel most self-aware tourists and would be tourists should be thinking about.

This was incredibly engaging and a lovely look at family relationships and how grief can also serve as a catalyst to bring people together, to take control of what is left and use it as an opportunity to reshape your life. I loved this! Well I love all of Barbara Hannay’s books so really this is no surprise.

***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Me in Venice by Barbara Hannay is a captivating fictional travel read revolving around an Australian family holidaying in the beautiful city of Venice trying to unravel a secret mystery from the past.

Discover the delights of Venice; the cuisine, the architecture, its history and culture.

Picture gondaliers, pink dawns and flaming sunsets over the landmarks in romantic Venice.

Significant to the story as are all visits to Venice are demonstrations of glassblowing and the colourful glass beads displayed on the island of Murano.

Perhaps, one might want to partake in a bead-making class as Venetian glass is so exquisite.

It's a long way to travel from Castaways Beach in Queensland to Venice for this family's Trip of a Lifetime.

Find out what secrets they uncover in Meet Me In Venice, a new outstanding novel by Barbara Hannay.

It'll make you want to visit Venice!

Thank you to the author, Barbara Hannay and the publisher, Penguin Random House, Australia for a Review Copy of this novel.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet me in Venice by Barbara Hannay is a heartwarming story about Daisy, who is still struggling a year after her husband Leo’s sudden death. She decides to take her 3 adult children to Venice, the birth place of Leo. When she visits her accountant she discovers a secret from Leo’s past. None of her children want to go on the holiday as they all have secrets they want to keep from their mother, but they realise that this holiday is finally helping her be more positive.
The descriptions of Venice are wonderful and made me want to experience the food, culture, architecture and history again. As it says on the cover, “This is a moving and heartfelt family drama about difficult choices and finding happiness in the most unexpected places.”
I really enjoy Barbara Hannay’s writing and this was another 5* read for me.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace Book Club and Penguin Random House Australia for my copy for review.

[Certified Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Me In Venice is the latest contemporary read from Australian author, Barbara Hannay. With its beautiful cover that conveys warm, summer days, this is one for readers who need an Italian armchair holiday. Meet Me In Venice centres around the Benetto family, who are living in various parts of the world. At the heart of the family is the widowed matriarch, Daisy. Daisy calls her children together for a holiday in the birthplace of their father and her husband, Leo, in the hopes of recapturing the past. For Marc, Anna and Ellie, this is not the time for a holiday as they are all dealing with their own problems. Their love for Daisy is greater than the sum of their problems and they all descend upon the city of Venice.

Daisy is the perfect wife and mother. She still loves Leo a year after his death and adores her children, flaws and all. What she doesn’t bargain on is learning that Leo has kept a secret from her for many of their years as husband and wife. Initially, this looks like it’ll be a typical affair but, thankfully, it was more interesting than that. It would have destroyed Daisy and changed the nature of Leo’s personality. I couldn’t predict Leo’s secret so I enjoyed the intrigue, unravelling the mystery along with Daisy.

Marc is the only son of Daisy and Leo. Married to Bronte, they have issues that many readers can relate to. Marc is a workaholic, leaving Daisy lonely and neglected. I felt for Bronte because she can’t get through to Marc. At breaking point, Bronte believes that nothing will change and has left Marc. This recent change in their relationship status has been kept a secret from the other Benetto family members. Now with Daisy calling the family together, Marc, surprisingly, convinces Daisy to go to Venice as husband and wife. Will the romance of Venice save their marriage or is too late?

Anna is the sibling that loves to be the centre of attention. She has hopes and dreams of making it as an actress in London. Reality has been cruel though, and Anna has learnt that it making it is much harder then she thought. I admired Anna for persevering but couldn’t quite understand why she kept the truth from her family. I think everyone would have been more understanding then Anna gave them credit for. Will Anna make the big time or will she live an ordinary life?

Leon’s and Anna’s younger sister, Ellie, has finished high school. She lives at home with Daisy and has the luxury of enjoying a gap year before making choices about the future. Ellie stands out for me because she doesn’t want to conform to society’s norms. As someone who hasn’t conformed to one of society’s greatest norms, I cheered Ellie on. On the other hand, I felt for her because, at the same time, she was lost. Will Ellie find her path?

With themes of secrets, family, marriage, siblings, grief and Venice, this is a lovely read for fans of Hannay, old and new.

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a super book! I was gripped from beginning to end by this wonderful, heartwarming story of a mum and her grown-up children meeting up in Venice for a holiday together. It was one of those books that had me finding excuses to go to bed at night so I could lose myself in the story. Ms Hannay really brought Venice to life and although I've visited the city several times, I now want to go again. Her characters were well-rounded with believable conflicts and a satisfying ending. Ms Hannay has brilliantly made the leap from category romance to Women's Fiction and I look forward to reading more from her.

[Ellen Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to an audiobook and thoroughly loved this beautiful story about the importance of family.

Barbara Hannay brought Venice to life with her evocative prose and wonderful characters. Everyone was well developed and real. I could have easily gone to Venice with them. I have a soft spot for Daisy who took her family to such a beautiful place and changed their lives for the better.

Definitely a 5 Star read. I highly recommend it.

[Kay Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I needed something light after reading quite few emotionally taxing books. Barbara Hannay never disappoints. I felt the great romance of Venice and wanted to be there.

[Cathleen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delicious read this is from a Master writer.

Daisy invites her three adult children to Venice for a family get together after their father, Leo, passes away, but each of them has their own secret. None wants to reveal their failing to their mother who is still grieving her husband, but secrets have a way of slipping out.

This is a great book. It gripped me from beginning to end. I loved reading about an older female protagonist and all the twists and turns that life brings. The setting is wonderful too, full of secrets too.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Sok4FAW...

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 3 out of 5]

Дълго време се чудих дали да я чета, но можеше и спокойно да я прескоча. Книгата се чете лесно, но героите и случките ме оставиха безразлична. Емоции имаше чак към края, когато те израстват и се п��оменят. Харесаха ми описанията на Венеция, уличките, мостовете, атмосферата там, имаше и романтични моменти.
Сюжетът разказва за жена с три пораснали деца, която загубва твърде рано съпруга си. Тя решава да замине за Венеция, родното му място, където да се събере със семейството си в негова памет. Големият ѝ син е пред развод, актьорската кариера на дъщеря ѝ Анна е в застой, а Ели е най-малката и все още неориенитрана какво иска да прави с живота си. Една голяма тайна заплашва да отнеме спокойствието им, те трябва да се справят с предизвикателствата и да преоткрият себе си. Може би 3,5*

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Barbara Hannay, this has been a beautiful read. My only visit to Venice was many years ago so I have thoroughly revisiting with your family story. Totally recommend this book or any books by Barbara Hannay.

[Anna Pelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit of mystery, romance and good old family values. An enjoyable read.

[Desislava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Историята :
Една година след трагичната загуба на съпруга си Дейзи кани трите им пораснали деца на почивка във Венеция-родният град на баща им.
Идеята е да опознаят и другата си родина и да се съберат отново заедно, както преди.
Но никой от тях предполага, че там ще открият дълго пазена тайна, че нищо не е същото и, че това семейно пътешествие ще промени животът на всички им.
Нищо не е така, както изглежда и всичките й деца вече имат свой живот и проблеми за решаване.
Бракът на Марк и Бронти се разпада. Дали посред надигащата се мъгла над каналите и калдъръмeните улички на романтичният град те ще намерят отното пътят един към друг?
Кариерата на Анна като актриса в Лондон е в застой, а любовният й живот е пълна трагедия.
Ще й помогне ли Венеция да разбере за какво истински мечтае сърцето й?
Що се отнася до Ели-най-малката й дъщеря-тя всячески се опитва да отбягва въпросите за бъдещето си и постъпването в университет.
И скоро разбира, че момчето, с което е отраснала се оказва и най-голямата й любов.
Ще срещне ли нова надежда самата Дейзи и ще успокои ли душата си?
Всичко това се случва във Венеция.
Магична, красива, неповторима❤️
Книгата се оказа страхотна и много интересна.
Обичам такива семейни истории с повече герои.
Много, много ми хареса за първи път чета книга на Барбара Ханей.
И доста ми напомня на стилът на Даниел Стийл и нейните сюжети.
Книгата е много добре оценена и в gooodreads.
И аз давам 4⭐⭐⭐⭐

📝📍
"Харесваше Венеция във всичките й настроения-блещукаща в мълчалива лунна светлина или окъпана във воала на мъглата, или обвита в розовото сияние на зората, или обхваната в обедната суматоха когато туристите пълнеха пазарите.
" Беше очарована от усещането за история, романтичната архитектура и драматичната връзка на града с морето ".

[Евелина Йосифова (Reader Wizard) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Да се срещнем във Венеция" разказва за една бурна ваканция във Венеция. Дейзи е жена на средна възраст, която преди една година загубва съпруга си и решава, че ще замине за родното му място заедно с трите си деца, които вече отдавна са пораснали и водят собствен живот изпълнен с тайни. И трите деца са изпълнени със съмнения за тази почивка, но в крайна сметка се съгласяват заради майка си. Дали обаче ще успеят да намерят отново пътя към сплотеното семейство от преди с всичките си тайни и грижи, които ще изплуват на повърхността?

Книжката е свежа и интересна, атмосферата е описана прекрасно и определено ме подтикна да мечтая за красивата Венеция.

[Linda Louch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is a light easy read. Widow Daisy decides to take her son and daughter in law and her two daughters for a holiday in Venice where their father was born. He then moved to Australia and met Daisy and lived on the Sunshine Coast. When they arrive in Venice the city works its magic on them all and helps them make choices that will change all their lives. Will definitely read more of Barbara Hannay's books.

[Tanya Nellestein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written story set in a gorgeous location. Hannay takes the reader on a beautiful journey as the Benetto family come to terms with the life and death of their father, and sort out their own destinies while they're at it.

[Martin Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

September 10, 2019
Martin Kerr

More than a reunion

Meet me in Venice
By Barbara Hannay
Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House Australia, 347 pp

Meet me in Venice is a romance novel with a challenge. The central figure is an aging, grieving widow whose husband, Leo, died suddenly leaving a mystery surrounding his Venetian heritage. The Benetto children, of ‘a carefree, unpretentious, ordinary Aussie family’ (p133), are all over the place, except for Ellie who has just finished high school and is friended with Zach who works for his father as an apprentice mechanic in the sun and surf of the Sunshine Coast.
Daisy lacks confidence, but with the help of friends she decides to bring her family together for a reunion in Venice where she hopes to meet Leo’s relatives and solve the mystery about a trust fund.
The senior of the family is Marc who has just been deserted by his wife in the IT world of Silicon Valley. They decide to get together for Daisy’s sake and a ‘Berlin Wall’ is established with pillows in a rented apartment, with all the trimmings, overlooking a small canal in Venice. Anna arrives from London, the second in the family, an actress of note in Australia but a waitress in London achieving very little in the way of professional work. She has a lot to live up to, as with Marc, to keep their mother happy.
The dynamics of a family get together with a mixture of vulnerability, failure and talent, including a grieving over-protected mother, is handled with aplomb. The author understands food, fashion and music. Dark-eyed and black haired Italian waiters, ‘jaw-droppingly handsome’, (p70) sizzle with sensuality.
Ellie meets an all American boy but fails to connect. She is saved by the sudden arrival of Zach which creates a new set of problems.
Anna suspects her elder brother is in trouble with Bronte his wife. And when Daisy has an accident after meeting the family connections, Anna comes to the fore with new found confidence, even though her acting career still up in the air. A romance blossoms with an ‘absurdly good looking’ (p221) doctor who could have been a family blood relative. The story is loaded with suspense as Daisy’s children wrestle with problems of family hierarchy, marriage, careers, or first love.
Resolution is possible in a plot that we know must resolve positively. Barbara Hannay has created real people with varying weaknesses and talents. Nothing is smooth. Life is real. A reunion in Venice is a risky venture for all involved. Throughout, contrasting atmospheres of the Sunshine Coast and Venice ring true. Having a ‘weaker’ older character lead the charge is challenging but honest. All families have problems, especially when suddenly abandoned by the death of the breadwinner husband and father.
Hannay succeeds because she has created genuine characters with flaws and weaknesses which can be accommodated through love and understanding.
Out of the mysteries of war in and around Townsville (Moonlight Plains), a police procedural and drug investigation in the highlands’ town of Burralea (Summer of Secrets, The Country Wedding): Meet me in Venice is a confident account of generational and cultural challenges. These are threaded and cemented by great dialogue, easy instructional Italian, lovely meals, scenic walks and vaporetto travel through a water divided city of deep mystery and often violent history.
I give Hannay a high five. Meet me in Venice is a novel for readers seeking true romance across the geographical and psychological divide.

Martin Kerr’s New Guinea Patrol was first published in 1973. His cult memoir, short stories and seven novels are available on Kindle. martindkerr@gmail.com

[MaryG2E · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★s
Daisy Benetto, 60yo, has been grieving for her late husband Leo who died suddenly of a heart attack shortly before he retired. She misses him deeply and is depressed. All the goals and dreams for their retirement years evaporated. She decides to make a complete change of scene and invites her three children to join her in a holiday in Venice, which was Leo’s birthplace.

Oldest child Marc, married to Bronte, is an IT expert who lives and works in Silicon Valley, California. His obsession with his work, fed by his conviction that he must be the best possible at his job, has caused his marriage to fail. Bronte has left him. In denial, Marc has not told his mother and siblings about this situation.

Middle child Anna enjoyed approval as an aspiring actress at home in Australia. Now living in London, she earns a meagre wage in cafes, while attending numerous auditions. In the highly competitive environment of the London acting scene, she despairs that she will ever snare a decent role, one that might grant her some kudos with the industry’s directors.

Youngest child Ellie has completed her secondary education and gained good scores with her end-of-year grades but has not decided on any path to follow. She hangs out with her best friend Zach, a budding motor mechanic, surfs at her local beach on the Sunshine Coast and waits tables to earn some money.

So, at the start of the holiday in Venice, all four Benettos, plus Bronte, are in difficult emotional states. It is hard to imagine how they will manage to get along together for a fortnight in an apartment in Venice.

The scenario plays out in an interesting way with each character facing challenges and gaining insights. The setting in wonderful Venice provides a perfect backdrop and an array of incidental characters to enliven the narrative. This enjoyable novel is perfect reading for the holiday season. It is intelligent but not too deep, has an appealing array of characters and the writing style is straightforward and accessible to a wide readership.

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the sudden death of her husband Leo Benetto Daisy Benetto decides to take the trip she and her husband had planned to take with her three adult children. Living in Castaways Beach in Queensland with her youngest Ellie.So calls each one up and tells them that she is paying for them to go to Venice for holiday together. Little does Daisy know that there are show many things happening in each of her childern's lives. There is Marc married to Bronte living in America at California’s Silicon Valley where he is working all hours, allways on his phone paying little attention to his wife. Where she ends up asking for a separation from Marc. When Marc learns of the inpeding holiday he asks his wife to come and play at being happliy married for his mother's sake as he does not want to worry her.
Then there's Daisy daughter Anna an actress has learnt that it making it is much harder then she thought of making it as an actress in London. And Ellie her youngest on a gap year who just finished high school wants to travel with her bestfriend Zach who is working as a mechanic for his dad. She will come realise that maybe Zach might more than just a friend.
Then theere's discovery by Daisy about her husbands secret when visits their account she learns of trust left to an other woman in Venice.
This is story was so well written by Barbara Hannay that we got see thar no matter how we grow up as children we still need our mother and mother's worry for her children doesn't end when they have left home. She showed us a beautiful discription of Venice and the poeple that main characters become invovled with support Daisy and her family to discover more about the man they loved Leo.
I think anyone who reads this book will enjoy it very much.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Me in Venice is the latest offering from romance novelist Barbara Hannay, but the romance takes a bit of a back seat this time around, with the greater focus on family and relationships.

The five members of the Benetto family are at a crossroads.
Oldest child, Marc and his wife Bronte are looking at divorce as his job is taking a toll on their lives.
Anna is living in London, trying to make a living as an actress.
Baby of the family Ellie has just finished high school and has no idea what she wants to do with her life.
Mum Daisy is trying to put back what is left of her life after the death of her husband, Leo.
On a whim, Daisy decides to get the family back together to visit the place of Leo's birth - Italy.

The book follows these individuals as they not only get to know Venice, but also each other again.

I'll be honest - Venice has never been one of top picks for holiday destinations, but this book just absolutely drew me in. The city is brought to life on paper, the food, the history, the people, and it actually had me wondering if I need to add it to my bucket list! Everything is just so vivid and real, I really did feel transported.

The characters, despite being related, are really quite a diverse lot, and all of them were enjoyable to get to know as they worked through their problems. To an extent, the ending was a bit too neat for my tastes, but I think this is one of those books were the journey is more important than the destination.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This book is by Australian author Barbara Hannay, who is new to me. She writes lovely romantic novels. Daisy is recently widowed and is finding that her grown children were growing apart from her and each other. So she decides to treat them all to a family holiday in Venice, their father's birthplace. Each of her kids has a reason for not going but each accepts out of love for Daisy. Son Marc and his wife Bronte's marriage is on the rocks, daughter Anna is finding that her plans for acting in London is not going to plan and daughter Ellie, on a gap year, is finding herself at sea, unable to decide her future. Venice is enchanting and works its magic on them all. This was a very pleasant holiday read.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! A great family story about recently widowed Daisy and her 3 children. After her husband Leo passes away unexpectedly, Daisy decides to shout her 3 adult children a trip to Venice so they could have a family bonding holiday where her husband was born. Anna is an aspiring actress who has not found many jobs in London, Mark and his wife Bronte live in Silicon Valley and have marriage troubles and the youngest Ellie is just out of high school with no real direction.

It’s a great story and fans of Women’s Fiction will love this book. I listened to it on audiobook which was expertly narrated by Taylor Owens.

[Vania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet me in Venice
By Barbara Hannah
A very comforting read. Straightforward and relatively uncomplicated, it nevertheless develops characters of real substance, whom you care about. Venice is the balm to the family’s varied problems and I loved the escapism afforded by this adventure. Immensely satisfying.

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[Lynette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very good read as Daisy recovers from the sudden death of her husband Leo she decides to pay for her3 children -2 of whom live abroad -to meet in Venice where Leo was born -- things that have been hidden start to unravel -- hard to put down until last page