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Tuscan Dreams #3

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello

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

With Christmas around the corner, Izzie Jenkins is ready to kickstart the new ‘Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes’ course at Villa Limoncello with chef and business partner, Luca Castelotti.

However, secrets are stirring with their latest guests and when nasty accidents keep befalling the group it looks like Izzie will have to turn detective once more to protect the Villa’s fledgling reputation. On top of all this, Izzie’s been offered the job of a lifetime – back home in Cornwall. Will she be coming home for Christmas, or will Tuscany work its magic to keep her at Villa Limoncello with Luca?

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

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2020

108 people are currently reading
192 people want to read

About the author

Daisy James

37 books164 followers
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.

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5 stars
225 (42%)
4 stars
166 (31%)
3 stars
99 (18%)
2 stars
34 (6%)
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8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Dash fan .
1,515 reviews714 followers
November 29, 2019
4☆ A Scrumptious Festive Romance

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello is the third book in series, but my first book.
I only wish I had read the previous books as this would of been an amazing series.
I'm a big fan of Daisy James books so I'm surprised I haven't yet read the previous books, but they are definitely going on my TBR pile.

As this is the third book and incase like me you haven't yet read the others I won't go into any detail about the plot, as i don't want to risk giving anything away.

My only niggle with the book, was that It took me a while to get into the story and build any relationships with the characters, largely because I hadn't read the previous books.
So I do recommend reading the whole series.

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello is a wonderfully compelling Story full of Festive warmth, intrigue, secrets, a dash of mystery, drama, plenty of mouterwatering delicious delights, and a sprinkle of romance.
So i definitely recommend not reading this Gorgeous Book on an empty tummy!

So if you are looking for a fabulously Festive Foodie Delight, that is Uplifting, Heart Warming, full of intrigue, with a dash of Romance then you will enjoy Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello. The Perfect Read for the festive season!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources and Canelo this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.


My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,347 reviews203 followers
December 12, 2020
Oh, another super cute holiday book? Yes, sign me up for more of these.

There's just something about winter and getting closer to the holidays that just makes want to focus on all things holiday-wise. Did I wrap the presents for my family yet? Nope, but I do have some pretty cute wrapping paper. One even has donuts on it!

Besides my love for the holidays, this book was really cute. I've never been to Tuscany and due to the covid-times, I was happy to dive into a book that could describe the place to me. Long story short, I need to plan a trip to Tuscany STAT.

In Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello, you will meet Izzie and Luca. Now since I haven't dove into books 1 and 2 (yet), I didn't know much about these two and had no idea if I would've met them in those previous books. That didn't mean that I couldn't sense that these two had some strong ass feelings for one another.

They were really cute together. So, yeah, they were likable.. but I could also sense some drama coming my way. Honestly, things didn't go down the way that I thought they were heading - which was a nice surprise for me. Now that I finished this book, I will see if I can find the first two in this series and dive into them when I can.
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews223 followers
October 20, 2019
Having not read the previous 2 books, it took me some time to understand the depths of Izzie and Lucas's love. This book was set in the winter in snowy Tuscany.

Izzie was back at Villa Limoncello to organize courses and to transform the villa to make it into an ideal Tuscan getaway. They were to entertain a choir for the week along with baking courses. Izzie had a career decision to make and Luca wanted to give her the space to decide before going further with their relationship. Meanwhile mysterious things happened to the guests. Izzie and Luca had to investigate that along with their decisions.

My first book by Daisy James, and I felt she was a brilliant writer. Within the first few page, I could feel the story unfolding. Love between Luca and Izzie started working its magic on me from the beginning of the story when the two met at the airport. They wore their emotions on their sleeves. The writing gave me the powerful imagery, I could imagine Izzie's eyes sparkling on seeing Luca.

The book started slow, showing me the different characters and things happening in the villa. The author's writing brought to life the descriptions and events in a most delightful way. Christmas in Tuscany sure was fun. Characters were many, but their emotions were filled with warmth, except for a couple. The story traveled its own path before coming to the end.

Overall, a light fun read where mystery was weaved into the romance which made it a sweet love story.
Profile Image for Skyesmum .
507 reviews14 followers
August 24, 2019
Another delicious story by Daisy James. When reading,I am immersed in Villa Limoncello, it's gardens and vines.
I love reading about Izzie and Luca's romance and all the things around it. I can virtually smell the delicious sounding food that Luca makes
Meghan and Gianni are another couple whose romance makes this story just leave a huge smile on your face.
A wonderful feel good story with a few Christmas tantalising titbits.

Thanks to NetGalley, Daisy James and Canelo for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book.
Profile Image for Nursebookie.
2,888 reviews451 followers
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October 25, 2019
Christmas in Tuscany and in a Villa - what else would you want? I thoroughly enjoyed this read so much for the wonderful writing style and description of the beautiful Tuscany, the foods, and the characters. There is the right amount of mystery and suspense and a feel-good Christmas read. This read was truly a fun escape where dreams do come true. I highly recommend this read to get into the Christmas spirit and for those who love an amazing story filled with the magic of the season.
Profile Image for Carla.
7,615 reviews179 followers
October 24, 2019
When I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it, it is gorgeous. I should have taken a minute to check it out better, because it is the final book in a trilogy. As I began reading this book, I was a bit lost as to all that had happened to bring the couples in this book together and what had happened to bring financial issues to Villa Limoncello. The more I got into the story, things cleared up and I was able to just read and enjoy the story.

Isabella, Izzy, Jenkins has been offered her dream job in England and she has a tough decision to make. Luca Castelotti, a handsome, chef who she just happens to love, lives in Tuscany and owns not only a Trattoria, but Villa Limoncello. Izzy has headed off to Italy to assist Luca with the latest group that is staying at the villa for "Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes" a five day course of Christmas cooking and crafts, as well as rehearsals for upcoming Christmas concerts. As the title says, there are so many secrets, it is hard to tell who is being honest or who is not sharing something they should be sharing. This is a romance, spearheaded by Carlotta, the village matchmaker. She has brought many people together, including Izzy and Luca and she knows they are meant to be. Both of them are trying not to hurt the other, so are not telling each other what they are thinking and what they need to know. With someone trying to blackmail members of the chorus, an attempt to harm the conductor and some love in the air, will the concerts go even go on? Will Luca and Izzy finally sit down and tell each other what is in their hearts? Be prepared for a surprise at the end that adds just a touch more angst to the story.

The story is well plotted with many secrets scattered throughout the story that add some tension and mystery. Is is well written and once I had sorted everything out, it held my attention well. Sometimes I forgot I was reading a romance as the other interesting storylines added much to the story. For me, the setting, the historical and artistic references were another interesting part of this book. It was great for the armchair traveler in me. Overall, it is a wonderful story of following your heart and your dreams to find what you really want, and doing that at Christmas time in Italy is truly magical. If you like a feel-good Christmas romance full of charm, them pick this one up to enjoy. I received a copy of this book from the publisher upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Profile Image for Julie.
Author 5 books228 followers
October 30, 2019
A lovely light read that has all the usual Christmas elements but with an Italian twist. I loved the descriptions of the Italian Christmas specialities as well as the English foodie treats and, as a bonus, there are some recipes at the back of the book to try out.
There are some delightful characters on the course that Izzie has been asked to help run but are the things that keep happening really accidents or is there something more sinister afoot?
It seems everybody has a secret and some people would rather their secrets stay that way. So, not only does Izzie have to ensure all the guests are happy, she also has to figure out what's going on. This doesn't give her much time to pursue her relationship with Luca and when she hears indirectly that Luca is thinking os selling the hotel, her future plans might be in jeopardy. I really loved the ending and how everything came together. A lovely read.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,811 reviews117 followers
September 5, 2019
I adore the limoncello series. This book doesn’t disappoint at all, so lovely and Christmassy, I imagine will be even more so not read in August. I love Izzie and Luca so much, so much so I find myself wishing the other character plots would just hurry up and go back to them at times ! They’re such a cute couple, don’t misunderstand I loved the rest of the story too, I just adore them. Another addictive and engrossing read from Daisy and I look forward to so many more books from her in the future.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Profile Image for Jenny Smith.
448 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2022
I was a bit frustrated when I opened the book and realised it was the third in a trilogy, but it didn’t actually matter and could be read as a stand alone book.

The reference on the cover to the main character turning detective due to some nasty accidents was rather misleading I felt! However it was a nice read, and really brought to mind lovely images of Italian scenery and food - I could imagine myself there!
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
September 21, 2019
How wonderful to be back in Tuscany, this time in December and with a festive feel to the new course that Luca and Izzie are putting on. I'll admit like Izzie I had no expectations of snow in Tuscany, but apparently there is some!

I loved all the Italian food in this story, and also all the Christmas crafts that Izzie came up with. I wish I was talented enough to try to make some myself, as they sounded fabulous.

This addition to the series didn't have a mystery as such in it, or at least nothing for Luca and Izzie to try their hands at amateur detecting again, but just from early conversations with each guest, you could see that there are a lot of secrets amongst themselves to see if they would be revealed during the book.

I did though want to bang Luca and Izzie's heads together, as one simple honest conversation at the start of the week would have really helped (but the story would have been a lot shorter and less enjoyable), but I'll admit I am incredibly satisfied with how the series has been brought to a conclusion.

It was so great to catch up with my favourite Italian residents in the local area, I do love a familiar face in a series, and this one had plenty of them.

I've loved all three books of this Villa Limoncello series, and this was no exception. Filled with all the best things Tuscany has to offer, some sexy men, delicious food, great craft ideas and plenty of secrets and intrigue - I whizzed through the pages in a state of pure bliss.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
Profile Image for Jo Shaw.
523 reviews34 followers
October 26, 2019
This was my third trip to Villa Limoncello and as with the other two books in the Tuscan Dreams series, it really did not disappoint. The charm of the previous two books in the series continued but with a very Christmassy feel. It really made me want to bake and make crafts!

Daisy’s books always make me feel hungry, there is just so much attention to detail when it comes to the food that is so vital to the creation of the Tuscan atmosphere. It truly is a sensory experience reading this series of books! I also think that the cover artwork for all three books is absolutely stunning, and compliment one another perfectly.

I loved the theme of the course, and the new characters who were attending the course at Villa Limoncello. The book deals with a number of secrets, which by the end are all revealed, and as for the ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ aspect of the relationship between Izzie and Luca, which has developed through the three books, my lips are firmly sealed! What I will say is that I was happy with the way the series has concluded, although I would absolutely love to see another return to Villa Limoncello, which has become a very special literary location for me.

I never expected Tuscany, which is normally evoked by lemon-scented sunshine, to feel quite so evocative of Christmas, and if like me, you enjoy reading Christmassy romances in the winter months, please put this on your list!

Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,087 reviews86 followers
September 30, 2019
Izzy works as a designer however a short while ago she took a trip to Italy and fell in love not only with the country. She loves Luca and is helping him run courses at Villa Limoncello whilst he and some friends are renovating it. Luca seems a little distant so she is not sure what is going on and he wopn;t be drawn on the matter. The course gets underway for a choir who each morning are either cooking or crafting. Their leader Nick is rather a bully and Izzy catches him having a go at several of the members of the choir. When a plant pot falls rather close to Nick’s head she wonders if someone has a different agenda. I learnt something from this book -apart from having to keep looking up the wonderful baking goodies mentioned. There are recipes at the back including how to make Lemoncello. Yum! I learnt that I am a locavore- someone who eats locally sourced food as much as possible. I really enjoyed reading this. SOmething that little bit different. Of making the most of your life, even through the difficulties that life may throw at us, to follow your heart and most of all do what makes you happy which isn’t always what is expected of us. Although the recipes and crafts are seasonal this is a book that could be enjoyed any time of year. A wonderful uplifting read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
Profile Image for booksofallkinds.
1,020 reviews175 followers
October 22, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley.

First of all, I have to comment on that cover - such a beauty! And the cover matches the warm and enjoyable story that is waiting for you inside CHRISTMAS SECRETS AT VILLA LIMONCELLO by Daisy James.

The season is upon them all at Villa Limoncello in the beautiful surroundings of Italy and a new batch of guests have arrived. Izzie and Luca are ready to teach and tantalise everyone's taste buds but when secrets begin to cause some trouble, they will have to figure out what is happening. But Izzie also has some thinking to do when she gets offered an opportunity of a lifetime back home in Cornwall and when someone from her past shows up unexpectedly. Will the shores of home keep her from Italy and a chance at love?

This book is part of a series so I recommend that you read the others in order to get the most out of this wonderful book. The setting of Tuscany and the Villa Limoncello came alive on every page and I could almost taste and smell the delicious food as I turned each page. The characters are warm and inviting, and I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their passion for what they love.

CHRISTMAS SECRETS AT VILLA LIMONCELLO by Daisy James is a lovely story that is sure to make you smile and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Isabella May.
Author 22 books129 followers
December 24, 2019
Magical!

A beautiful finale to the Tuscan trilogy, which cannot fail to put a smile on your face and get you in the festive spirit!
Profile Image for Vikkie.
520 reviews36 followers
September 6, 2019
Another absolutely delicious and stunning read from Daisy James. This is another book I haven't wanted to put down. It is a wonderful story. 
I love Izzy and Luca, their romance makes me smile and I really like reading about them. They are such likeable and realistic characters it's hard not to want to know more and more. 
I have loved the Christmas setting of this book, it's a perfect Christmas read. Also, a perfect time for romance. This is a book guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face. 
Daisy James writes beautifully and in a way that completely engages me in the story. I love that she has produced a romance in a magnificently romantic location. This is a wonderful book that definitely deserves a five star rating.
Profile Image for Meg Dean.
301 reviews11 followers
September 16, 2019
This series! Daisy James never fails to entertain!!!

I love these books and am hoping for many more!!!
Profile Image for Geri Lynn.
88 reviews
May 22, 2020
Excellent fun and light hearted read

I discovered Mz James by accident, and have devoured all three of her Villa Limoncello stories in just a few days.
Perfect fast reads for feeling good and smiling heart.
Especially loved the recipes at the end of the stories.
Warning! Will make you crave Italian food and wine! :D

Hoping there will be more stores at the Villa. A few secrets, lots of crafts and food and wonderful romance makes these book perfect for summer beach reads, or in front of a warm fire on a cold rainy day.
Profile Image for Chris.
431 reviews22 followers
August 15, 2023
I love Tuscany, and I've loved this trilogy of books. Christmas is approaching, a choir from England arrives at the villa for a Christmassy crafts and cookery workshop, but Izzie has other things on her mind. Will she move back to Cornwall to be near her parents, and take a dream job, or will she follow her heart and stay in Tuscany? I had so much fun finding out. So many twists and turns, as well as some delicious recipes - which are included at the end of the book - and all with the backdrop of the beautiful Tuscan scenery. Definitely recommend this trilogy.
Profile Image for Joanne Giacomini.
Author 21 books30 followers
December 28, 2020
I loved the story line and was able to follow even after not knowing it was part of a trilogy and I had not read the other two books. Yet. The mix of romance, intrigue, Tuscany countryside and decadent Italian food and wine made for a perfect holiday read. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a great pick me up and escape this holiday season. I can't wait to read the other two stories in the trilogy!
Profile Image for Judy Adams.
760 reviews4 followers
December 7, 2022
Makes you want to catch the next flight to Italy. It would be so much fun to take some courses at villa Limoncello. Izzie is lucky to be there as a chef, and teaching Christmas crafts to a group of choir singers, who all seem to have a few secrets. Luca is the owner and chef extraordinaire, who also owns Antonio’s restaurant. Can they find the time to tell each other how they feel about each other.
1,076 reviews7 followers
September 19, 2023
Part of the Tuscan Dreams series, this one finds Izzie returning to the Villa outside of Florence to team up with the handsome Luca. They are hosting a workshop for an English choir group practicing for their upcoming holiday events. Romance is in the air and if you love a Italy, good food and wine you will enjoy this fun read!
Profile Image for Pamela Harju.
Author 18 books66 followers
January 1, 2021
Delightful

Predictable but delightful. I wish I had read this in the countdown to Christmas instead of after though!
I will definitely try out some of the recipes at the end of the book come next Christmas.
41 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2021
Gentle Romance

This story is predictable but I enjoyed the gentle flow towards happiness. Some humour helped it along and recommend it for anyone in need of an escape to sunshine and love.
127 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2021
Fantastic end to a wonderful trilogy of books.
Each could be read as a standalone book but much better if you read the 3 in order.
Izzie and Luca are wonderful main characters, again this book had tears in my eyes, loved it didn’t want it to end.
Profile Image for Michaela.
1,500 reviews10 followers
July 10, 2022
What a lovely conclusion to this series.

I always love a good Christmas feel good and this did not disappoint. With it set within Italy and having delicious recipes for the things they make whilst at Villa Limoncello.

Loved it
Profile Image for Kim Hayes.
403 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2022
This didn’t really do it for me…possibly because I hadn’t read the other books in the series. I didn’t get a huge rush of emotion when Luca and Izzie got together. Enjoyed the descriptions of Tuscany though!
Profile Image for Clare.
646 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2020
Not read the first two, but this was a gentle read.
Profile Image for Sophie.
441 reviews15 followers
January 6, 2021
I found this a little difficult to get into at first, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just a simple, feel good Christmas book.
Profile Image for Samantha.
826 reviews2 followers
December 24, 2021
Cute book with a decent story line. I didn’t read the first two but will check them out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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