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One Hot Italian Summer
"I have never wanted to live in a book so badly! It's the perfect love story for a summer afternoon." -USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow
An author finds inspiration in Tuscany in the form of a hot Italian single dad... This summer is going to be a scorcher.
A writer who's blocked--I'm a total cliche.
Lucky for me, my agent has a cure that's an even bigger stereotype--a month at her villa in Tuscany, with nothing to do but find my muse.
When he walks right in the front door, adorable son in tow, it feels like fate has finally done for me what it does for every other cliche'd girl I've seen in the movies. Except that he's completely off-limits. In this case, business and pleasure can never mix.
Because Claudio is my agent's ex.
Still, he's smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He's fast becoming the cure to all my writing woes. And it's clear he wants me as much as I want him. As the hot Italian summer wears on, it becomes harder and harder to resist. Succumbing to the heat even just one time could ruin my career.
Or he could be exactly what I need.
An author finds inspiration in Tuscany in the form of a hot Italian single dad... This summer is going to be a scorcher.
A writer who's blocked--I'm a total cliche.
Lucky for me, my agent has a cure that's an even bigger stereotype--a month at her villa in Tuscany, with nothing to do but find my muse.
When he walks right in the front door, adorable son in tow, it feels like fate has finally done for me what it does for every other cliche'd girl I've seen in the movies. Except that he's completely off-limits. In this case, business and pleasure can never mix.
Because Claudio is my agent's ex.
Still, he's smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He's fast becoming the cure to all my writing woes. And it's clear he wants me as much as I want him. As the hot Italian summer wears on, it becomes harder and harder to resist. Succumbing to the heat even just one time could ruin my career.
Or he could be exactly what I need.
382 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2020
1061 people are currently reading
6851 people want to read
About the author
Karina Halle
122 books19.6k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 877 reviews
July 29, 2020
How does Karina Halle continue to blow my mind with her romances? The Forbidden Man was SO GOOD and this one just blew me out of the water.
As a reader and someone who writes for fun, I love books about writers. I didn't read the synopsis of this one before going in, so I had no idea that our main character is a writer! Grace is going through a hard time after losing her writing partner, so there is a trigger waring for grief and loss of a loved one when going into this book. Grace is trying to write her first book on her own and is really struggling, so her agent sends her off to Tuscany for some inspiration. Seeing as we can't travel right now, I loved the atmosphere of this book and felt like I was in an Italian villa right next to Grace. I loved how she got to explore Italy and become inspired by the beautiful country.
For the romance, I was OBSESSED by this slow burn and forbidden romance. Claudio is an artist and I loved everything about him. He's passionate, sexy, and an amazing father to his 10-year-old son, Vanni. Vanni's character was so adorable and quirky and I loved how much he was involved in the book. The romance became that much more complicated because there were so many other people that were affected if Grace and Claudio actually did start a relationship. Also, that scene when Grace and Claudio decide to sculpt together? SO HOT.
I finished this book in one day because I was so in love with Grace's journey and the warm, Italian atmosphere of this book. If you want a sweet, slightly angsty forbidden romance, you have to pick this book up!
As a reader and someone who writes for fun, I love books about writers. I didn't read the synopsis of this one before going in, so I had no idea that our main character is a writer! Grace is going through a hard time after losing her writing partner, so there is a trigger waring for grief and loss of a loved one when going into this book. Grace is trying to write her first book on her own and is really struggling, so her agent sends her off to Tuscany for some inspiration. Seeing as we can't travel right now, I loved the atmosphere of this book and felt like I was in an Italian villa right next to Grace. I loved how she got to explore Italy and become inspired by the beautiful country.
For the romance, I was OBSESSED by this slow burn and forbidden romance. Claudio is an artist and I loved everything about him. He's passionate, sexy, and an amazing father to his 10-year-old son, Vanni. Vanni's character was so adorable and quirky and I loved how much he was involved in the book. The romance became that much more complicated because there were so many other people that were affected if Grace and Claudio actually did start a relationship. Also, that scene when Grace and Claudio decide to sculpt together? SO HOT.
I finished this book in one day because I was so in love with Grace's journey and the warm, Italian atmosphere of this book. If you want a sweet, slightly angsty forbidden romance, you have to pick this book up!
August 6, 2020
4.5 STARS
Holy. SWOOOON!!! One Hot Italian Summer was pure romance heaven and I loved it! Karina Halle has been killing it with her recent releases and this latest one is now a new favorite of mine. You will 100% get swept off your feet and wish you were in Italy once you read Grace and Claudio's romance. It's feel-good, steamy, and so sweet, I couldn't help but adore every moment I read it.
Grace used to be one half of an author duo, but after the death of her writing partner, she's feeling adrift and experiencing writer's block. Her new agent offers a solution: Grace will take a much needed vacation from Scotland and stay in her agent's villa in the Italian countryside. It's perfect... until she finds herself naked (so she can take a dip in the pool) in front of a gorgeous stranger and his son. Turns out, Claudio and Vanni are Grace's agent's ex-husband and son, and all three of them will be staying in the Tuscany villa together for the time being.
Grace and Claudio have SO much tension between them from the get-go. You can clearly tell how much they want each other but are trying so hard not to act on their lust and chemistry, not just because of Vanni but also his mother. But there's nothing more romantic than spending time together in the Italian countryside, where the sun is shining, the food is decadent, and the hero is a hunk, a sculptor (there's a pottery scene a la Ghost), and can speak to you (dirty) in Italian. These two fall and they fall hard. It's actually Claudio that dives in headfirst regarding the romance, and I loved that so much. He knows Grace is The One for him and will do anything to make her fall in love with him.
This book is the definition of the heart-eyes emoji. Grace is a lovely, relatable heroine, Claudio is swoony and sweet, even Vanni is hilarious and adorable! Karina Halle always writes such incredible romances that take place around the world, and this time she had me wishing I could live in Tuscany... and fall in love with a gorgeous Italian single dad. If you're looking for the perfect summer romance, look no further than One Hot Italian Summer.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DrIylQ
Holy. SWOOOON!!! One Hot Italian Summer was pure romance heaven and I loved it! Karina Halle has been killing it with her recent releases and this latest one is now a new favorite of mine. You will 100% get swept off your feet and wish you were in Italy once you read Grace and Claudio's romance. It's feel-good, steamy, and so sweet, I couldn't help but adore every moment I read it.
Grace used to be one half of an author duo, but after the death of her writing partner, she's feeling adrift and experiencing writer's block. Her new agent offers a solution: Grace will take a much needed vacation from Scotland and stay in her agent's villa in the Italian countryside. It's perfect... until she finds herself naked (so she can take a dip in the pool) in front of a gorgeous stranger and his son. Turns out, Claudio and Vanni are Grace's agent's ex-husband and son, and all three of them will be staying in the Tuscany villa together for the time being.
Grace and Claudio have SO much tension between them from the get-go. You can clearly tell how much they want each other but are trying so hard not to act on their lust and chemistry, not just because of Vanni but also his mother. But there's nothing more romantic than spending time together in the Italian countryside, where the sun is shining, the food is decadent, and the hero is a hunk, a sculptor (there's a pottery scene a la Ghost), and can speak to you (dirty) in Italian. These two fall and they fall hard. It's actually Claudio that dives in headfirst regarding the romance, and I loved that so much. He knows Grace is The One for him and will do anything to make her fall in love with him.
This book is the definition of the heart-eyes emoji. Grace is a lovely, relatable heroine, Claudio is swoony and sweet, even Vanni is hilarious and adorable! Karina Halle always writes such incredible romances that take place around the world, and this time she had me wishing I could live in Tuscany... and fall in love with a gorgeous Italian single dad. If you're looking for the perfect summer romance, look no further than One Hot Italian Summer.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DrIylQ
August 9, 2020
“I want you to see me as I really am, how I really feel, everything open. Nothing to hide. The real me.”
I absolutely adored this book. Karina Halle pulled me into this world with her amazing writing. The whole atmosphere of this book was like a warm hug.
I loved their story from the very beginning. Their first meeting was incredible. I was laughing so hard. I also loved the deep conversations they would sink into. I could definitely sense the connection they both shared.
Another thing I liked about this book that the romance involved Vanni so much. They took his feelings of their relationship into account. He was such a cute kid. Also, this book didn't have any unnecessary drama in the end which I totally respect.
Grace was so relatable at times that it made me laugh and Claudio could not have been any swoonier. He handled each situation gracefully.
It honestly felt like I was right there on vacation with Grace. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for the perfect feel good romance.
I absolutely adored this book. Karina Halle pulled me into this world with her amazing writing. The whole atmosphere of this book was like a warm hug.
I loved their story from the very beginning. Their first meeting was incredible. I was laughing so hard. I also loved the deep conversations they would sink into. I could definitely sense the connection they both shared.
Another thing I liked about this book that the romance involved Vanni so much. They took his feelings of their relationship into account. He was such a cute kid. Also, this book didn't have any unnecessary drama in the end which I totally respect.
Grace was so relatable at times that it made me laugh and Claudio could not have been any swoonier. He handled each situation gracefully.
It honestly felt like I was right there on vacation with Grace. I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for the perfect feel good romance.
December 16, 2022
I don’t get why they made the H a single dad if he was just going to be terrible at it. He was unavailable all (most) the time that his son had to create an alternate universe in his head where the dad he had there wasn’t so busy and could actually spend time with him. The kid was weird, but who could blame him?
Also, it was ironic considering he didn’t seem like someone with little time on his hands at all in this book when he was being nice, hospitable, charming, played house and did all kinds of things with the h. The same h whose shyness and grief made her annoying to me instead of sympathetic. Their romance felt flat and yadayadayada.
Looking back, there’s a gap in my memory where I can’t even think of what the plot or conflict in here was. Idk how the h overcame any of her issues. In any case, don’t read this review like it has any merit because I fell asleep in the middle of the book. Overall, it wasn’t problematic. It just was generic.
(Read as an Audiobook)
Also, it was ironic considering he didn’t seem like someone with little time on his hands at all in this book when he was being nice, hospitable, charming, played house and did all kinds of things with the h. The same h whose shyness and grief made her annoying to me instead of sympathetic. Their romance felt flat and yadayadayada.
Looking back, there’s a gap in my memory where I can’t even think of what the plot or conflict in here was. Idk how the h overcame any of her issues. In any case, don’t read this review like it has any merit because I fell asleep in the middle of the book. Overall, it wasn’t problematic. It just was generic.
(Read as an Audiobook)
July 29, 2020
Live ❤️
5 FANTASTIC STARS
Omg it was amazing, perfect summer read!!It was refreshing and it has all the things I love !I want to visit Italy and after reading this one I felt like I was already there!It was such a great read, full of emotions, heartwarming and fast paced!
Karina has a way with her words she always touch me and in this one she did it again!Claudio is a single father and artist and Grace is an author!I loved Grace a lot and I could connect with her!Claudio stole my heart, sigh this man was something else!
Their romance is intense, steamy and heavy!I loved their moments together!If you are looking for a fantastic summer read this is the best!
Beta Read <3
5 FANTASTIC STARS
Omg it was amazing, perfect summer read!!It was refreshing and it has all the things I love !I want to visit Italy and after reading this one I felt like I was already there!It was such a great read, full of emotions, heartwarming and fast paced!
Karina has a way with her words she always touch me and in this one she did it again!Claudio is a single father and artist and Grace is an author!I loved Grace a lot and I could connect with her!Claudio stole my heart, sigh this man was something else!
Their romance is intense, steamy and heavy!I loved their moments together!If you are looking for a fantastic summer read this is the best!
Beta Read <3
August 5, 2020
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This book is about an author and an esculptor, and their accidental encounter and love story while they're creating art.
Sounds simple, but it took me a few days to finish it... I loved Claudio. But again, I couldn't connect with Grace (I'm starting to think that it's a me problem and not a book problem), so I couldn't read it unstoppably like I usually do.
Grace is a writer going through a really hard moment after she lost her writing partner/best "only" friend, in a hit and run accident. Now she's trying to write solo, but her mind can't shut down of her lost friend, so when her agent suggest that a change of scenery, could do better to her creative process, she pack her summer dresses and fly away to Tuscany.
I think that this book will be very appreciated for all authors and artists out there... They will definitely relate to all the struggles and process that Grace lives.
Claudio is also an artist. A talented esculptor and Grace's agent ex husband /baby's daddy.
Grace feels all the Italian's vibe, and start to let go of her composed and tight form as soon as she's completely alone in her new home for the next month...
"I feel like I'm doing something dangerous and naughty and completely free, something Grace Harper of Edinburgh wouldn't normally do."
So that's their beginning.... A naked Grace in a pool of a hot Italian man's house, and his little boy.
Claudio is all about touch and feelings, as all the Italians, and Grace is always stiff like a hard wood and thinking too much, but day by day, his lifestyle and freedom starts to grown on her and the slow burn relationship between them, ignites in the middle of the book.
Vanni is Claudio's son, and he's so precious and smart that I just want to protect him from his abandonment issues! I love him too.
Actually all the Italian family just won my heart.
This book has a different pace, lots of food and scenery's description, I don't really know how to explain it. I had never read this author before, so it took me a few chapters to get used to it, but I'm happy that I'd give it a try.
I loooove how Claudio deals with Grace's emotions and fears, he really knew since the beginning, what he wanted and he unashamedly goes for it. I really love him!
The end of the book was just a perfectly HEA!
ARC Reviewer
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This book is about an author and an esculptor, and their accidental encounter and love story while they're creating art.
Sounds simple, but it took me a few days to finish it... I loved Claudio. But again, I couldn't connect with Grace (I'm starting to think that it's a me problem and not a book problem), so I couldn't read it unstoppably like I usually do.
Grace is a writer going through a really hard moment after she lost her writing partner/best "only" friend, in a hit and run accident. Now she's trying to write solo, but her mind can't shut down of her lost friend, so when her agent suggest that a change of scenery, could do better to her creative process, she pack her summer dresses and fly away to Tuscany.
I think that this book will be very appreciated for all authors and artists out there... They will definitely relate to all the struggles and process that Grace lives.
Claudio is also an artist. A talented esculptor and Grace's agent ex husband /baby's daddy.
Grace feels all the Italian's vibe, and start to let go of her composed and tight form as soon as she's completely alone in her new home for the next month...
"I feel like I'm doing something dangerous and naughty and completely free, something Grace Harper of Edinburgh wouldn't normally do."
So that's their beginning.... A naked Grace in a pool of a hot Italian man's house, and his little boy.
Claudio is all about touch and feelings, as all the Italians, and Grace is always stiff like a hard wood and thinking too much, but day by day, his lifestyle and freedom starts to grown on her and the slow burn relationship between them, ignites in the middle of the book.
Vanni is Claudio's son, and he's so precious and smart that I just want to protect him from his abandonment issues! I love him too.
Actually all the Italian family just won my heart.
This book has a different pace, lots of food and scenery's description, I don't really know how to explain it. I had never read this author before, so it took me a few chapters to get used to it, but I'm happy that I'd give it a try.
I loooove how Claudio deals with Grace's emotions and fears, he really knew since the beginning, what he wanted and he unashamedly goes for it. I really love him!
The end of the book was just a perfectly HEA!
ARC Reviewer
❤️ Follow me on Instagram 💋
July 28, 2020
This book was an absolute DREAM to read. Hands down one of my most FAVORITE Karina Halle reads. It's EVERYTHING I wanted. A delicious slowburn with all those tension building, squeeze-your-heart FEELS. It's sexy, it's swoony, so fun and flirty and tender! Utterly addicting too. I couldn't put it down. Claudio is most definitely my new FAVORITE book boyfriend! Such a beautiful romance. I am CRAZY IN LOVE!
July 30, 2020
4.5 'Mia musa' Stars!
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
Karina Halle is giving me life with her summer romances! It happened first with Lovewrecked and now with One Hot Italian Summer. Both equally good but so unique in their own ways, I just love how Karina writes. I am definitely always ready for a feel-good romance (especially nowadays) and this was exactly what I got. A forbidden love story, with a hot Italian single dad / sculptor and an author suffering writer’s block. Need I say more? You all know exactly how our heroine will find inspiration! ;)
So, One Hot Italian Summer is Karina’s new standalone release and, as I said, it is the sexy summer romance we all could use right now. I mean, if I could, I would love to vacation in a Tuscan villa with my very own sexy Italian! But now it’s Grace’s turn not mine.. lol Grace Harper has just lost her writing partner and she is not ready to move on and start writing again. She is going through a lot, including writer’s block. So when her agent gives her an escape to a beautiful Italian villa, Grace is ready for it. What she did not expect was to cross paths with Claudio Romano (her agent’s ex-husband) and fall in love with him.
He’s like the sun, where giving him too much attention might be dangerous, and yet your gaze is drawn there anyway.
Being a huge fan of Karina’s work, I find many her books the perfect escape I believe we all need while we are going through difficult times. I always love a sexy, light (but still emotional) romance and One Hot Italian Summer did not fail on that. Everything this book promised was there: a gorgeous single dad, a novelist getting her inspiration and self-love back, an adorable and quirky kid, a beautiful location, a burning slow burn and a forbidden chemistry that set my Kindle on fire.
“La mia musa,” he whispers hoarsely. “You are better than art.”
I loved Grace and Claudio, I loved their friendship and how that connection turned into more. I loved how romantic everything was. I am a sucker for a man who knows how to seduce and Claudio is surely an expert on that department! This wonderful Italian stole my heart with his love for Italy and its culture, his love for Vanni, his connection with his muse and with his romantic (and dirty!) words. Of course, the chemistry between this couple was OFF-THE-CHARTS and I loved it even more when it’s impossible for Grace and Claudio not to fall for each other. The drama was very light (but I love me some forbidden themes!) and I just really enjoyed this story and its happy ending.
We fit. We fit in such a way that it seems terribly cruel that we haven’t found each other until now. We missed out on so much by not being together that we’ve spent our life wandering around, wondering if it was ever possible to feel this way.
Therefore, I am rating One Hot Italian Summer with 4.5 STARS because I loved how Karina developed this story, I loved these characters, the beautiful scenery and the relationship between Grace and Claudio. I got exactly what I expected: a light, sexy and emotional summer romance. The only thing, I wish the epilogue was a bit more developed but, besides that, I really loved everything about this novel and I cannot wait to see what is coming next from Karina Halle!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.
Karina Halle is giving me life with her summer romances! It happened first with Lovewrecked and now with One Hot Italian Summer. Both equally good but so unique in their own ways, I just love how Karina writes. I am definitely always ready for a feel-good romance (especially nowadays) and this was exactly what I got. A forbidden love story, with a hot Italian single dad / sculptor and an author suffering writer’s block. Need I say more? You all know exactly how our heroine will find inspiration! ;)
So, One Hot Italian Summer is Karina’s new standalone release and, as I said, it is the sexy summer romance we all could use right now. I mean, if I could, I would love to vacation in a Tuscan villa with my very own sexy Italian! But now it’s Grace’s turn not mine.. lol Grace Harper has just lost her writing partner and she is not ready to move on and start writing again. She is going through a lot, including writer’s block. So when her agent gives her an escape to a beautiful Italian villa, Grace is ready for it. What she did not expect was to cross paths with Claudio Romano (her agent’s ex-husband) and fall in love with him.
He’s like the sun, where giving him too much attention might be dangerous, and yet your gaze is drawn there anyway.
Being a huge fan of Karina’s work, I find many her books the perfect escape I believe we all need while we are going through difficult times. I always love a sexy, light (but still emotional) romance and One Hot Italian Summer did not fail on that. Everything this book promised was there: a gorgeous single dad, a novelist getting her inspiration and self-love back, an adorable and quirky kid, a beautiful location, a burning slow burn and a forbidden chemistry that set my Kindle on fire.
“La mia musa,” he whispers hoarsely. “You are better than art.”
I loved Grace and Claudio, I loved their friendship and how that connection turned into more. I loved how romantic everything was. I am a sucker for a man who knows how to seduce and Claudio is surely an expert on that department! This wonderful Italian stole my heart with his love for Italy and its culture, his love for Vanni, his connection with his muse and with his romantic (and dirty!) words. Of course, the chemistry between this couple was OFF-THE-CHARTS and I loved it even more when it’s impossible for Grace and Claudio not to fall for each other. The drama was very light (but I love me some forbidden themes!) and I just really enjoyed this story and its happy ending.
We fit. We fit in such a way that it seems terribly cruel that we haven’t found each other until now. We missed out on so much by not being together that we’ve spent our life wandering around, wondering if it was ever possible to feel this way.
Therefore, I am rating One Hot Italian Summer with 4.5 STARS because I loved how Karina developed this story, I loved these characters, the beautiful scenery and the relationship between Grace and Claudio. I got exactly what I expected: a light, sexy and emotional summer romance. The only thing, I wish the epilogue was a bit more developed but, besides that, I really loved everything about this novel and I cannot wait to see what is coming next from Karina Halle!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
September 11, 2020
Now that I have managed to finish a romance book in 5 days, I am asking myself,
“Could it have been more boring?”
I guess not.
Karina Halle is a “hit or miss” writer for me but I keep reading her books, hoping each time that it will be a hit. This book, unfortunately, was pure torture for me because I had to literally force myself to read it. Trying not to drop it was a hard task, indeed.
Normally, I don’t go for “single dad” or “single mum” books but the title of the book was alluring and I wanted to try it.
*********************************************
Here's what I think about this book:
- The pace of the book is slow and most of the time it is boring.
- The female character is an annoying one that I couldn’t connect with at all. She lacks self-confidence and she fears about a lot of things all the time.
- The man doesn’t feel real as he is one of those guys who are “too good to be true”. He was likable but somehow, I couldn't connect with him, either. I had a hard time understanding his infatuation with Grace and sadly, I didn’t like his son at all. He was too weird for my liking.
*********************************************
In a slow book like this, how it makes you feel and how much you can connect to the characters is very important. If you can connect to the characters and feel what they feel, even if it is a slow book, you might still enjoy every minute of it.
Unfortunately, in this book, the characters HAVE NO CHEMISTRY.
The book DOESN’T MAKE YOU FEEL.
And that's the main problem.
I didn’t believe in their attraction.
I didn’t believe in their feelings and I didn’t feel their love.
Everything between them felt so very superficial and forced.
Therefore, sadly, this book was a waste of time for me ☹☹☹
*********************************************
Writing:
- It is written from dual point of view. Grace's chapters outweigh Claudio's, though.
- The writing is unfortunately dull and boring - it is never captivating. I even wanted to skip all their intimate scenes because they don't mean anything when I don't feel their chemistry and connection.
Safety:
- There is no OM drama.
- Neither the hero nor the heroine has sex with other people after they have met. When they have sex with each other, he only asks if she uses pills and when she says yes, there is no other talk of protection.
- As the hero is the ex-husband of the heroine's agent, our heroine fears from her reaction all the time and it becomes really annoying. Although the hero and his ex-wife don't have feelings for each other anymore, they share a child. And despite the fact that his ex-wife is now with another man, she shows an exaggerated reaction when she learns about their relationship, most of which stems from her pride.
I guess not.
Karina Halle is a “hit or miss” writer for me but I keep reading her books, hoping each time that it will be a hit. This book, unfortunately, was pure torture for me because I had to literally force myself to read it. Trying not to drop it was a hard task, indeed.
Normally, I don’t go for “single dad” or “single mum” books but the title of the book was alluring and I wanted to try it.
*********************************************
Here's what I think about this book:
- The pace of the book is slow and most of the time it is boring.
- The female character is an annoying one that I couldn’t connect with at all. She lacks self-confidence and she fears about a lot of things all the time.
- The man doesn’t feel real as he is one of those guys who are “too good to be true”. He was likable but somehow, I couldn't connect with him, either. I had a hard time understanding his infatuation with Grace and sadly, I didn’t like his son at all. He was too weird for my liking.
*********************************************
In a slow book like this, how it makes you feel and how much you can connect to the characters is very important. If you can connect to the characters and feel what they feel, even if it is a slow book, you might still enjoy every minute of it.
Unfortunately, in this book, the characters HAVE NO CHEMISTRY.
The book DOESN’T MAKE YOU FEEL.
And that's the main problem.
I didn’t believe in their attraction.
I didn’t believe in their feelings and I didn’t feel their love.
Everything between them felt so very superficial and forced.
Therefore, sadly, this book was a waste of time for me ☹☹☹
*********************************************
Writing:
- It is written from dual point of view. Grace's chapters outweigh Claudio's, though.
- The writing is unfortunately dull and boring - it is never captivating. I even wanted to skip all their intimate scenes because they don't mean anything when I don't feel their chemistry and connection.
Safety:
- There is no OM drama.
- Neither the hero nor the heroine has sex with other people after they have met. When they have sex with each other, he only asks if she uses pills and when she says yes, there is no other talk of protection.
- As the hero is the ex-husband of the heroine's agent, our heroine fears from her reaction all the time and it becomes really annoying. Although the hero and his ex-wife don't have feelings for each other anymore, they share a child. And despite the fact that his ex-wife is now with another man, she shows an exaggerated reaction when she learns about their relationship, most of which stems from her pride.
August 22, 2020
This was the exact kind of read I needed at the moment. It helped that the heroine, Grace, is a thirty-something Scottish writer and was more than a little relatable lol. As for the hero, Claudio, I'd love to see more heroes like him. A hero can still be hot, a little edgy and sexy, while being kind and endearing. Claudio definitely proves that.
The story is funny, sweet, emotional, earthy and tremendously sexy. And Karina brings Tuscany to such vivid life it really is like another character in the book. If you want a lighter read with great character development, lots of passion and a beautiful setting, then I highly recommend this one!
The story is funny, sweet, emotional, earthy and tremendously sexy. And Karina brings Tuscany to such vivid life it really is like another character in the book. If you want a lighter read with great character development, lots of passion and a beautiful setting, then I highly recommend this one!
September 18, 2020
4.5 Muse stars
July 31, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Grace Harper struggled to finish writing her novel after losing her muse and writing partner. When her agent offered her a Tuscan villa to escape for inspiration to write her book, she gladly took the opportunity. But what supposed to be a retreat, turned into something else when she encountered unexpected occupants in the form of an artist, Claudio Romano, and his son Vanni.
I love sculptures and Claudio being a sculptor already won extra points from me. I loved how he was subtly sexy and the way he protected those important to him. The only thing was I wished to see more of the moody artist side of him that was suggested but not really portrayed. I liked Vanni’s quirk which made him lovable. Grace's struggles were understandable and I liked being able to see that. However, I wanted to see more of her past which would add more impact since it significantly affected her in the present.
The story was light and entertaining. I liked being able to travel to Italy with the sights and sounds through the author’s words. The sex scenes took a while to happen, but once it did they were plenty and satisfying.
One Hot Italian Summer is a story of breaking free from the past. It would appeal to readers looking for an easy and light summer read.
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Grace Harper struggled to finish writing her novel after losing her muse and writing partner. When her agent offered her a Tuscan villa to escape for inspiration to write her book, she gladly took the opportunity. But what supposed to be a retreat, turned into something else when she encountered unexpected occupants in the form of an artist, Claudio Romano, and his son Vanni.
I love sculptures and Claudio being a sculptor already won extra points from me. I loved how he was subtly sexy and the way he protected those important to him. The only thing was I wished to see more of the moody artist side of him that was suggested but not really portrayed. I liked Vanni’s quirk which made him lovable. Grace's struggles were understandable and I liked being able to see that. However, I wanted to see more of her past which would add more impact since it significantly affected her in the present.
Claudio keeps pumping into me, the sharp slap of his hips filling the room, the feel of his balls as they whip against me. He is a voracious, relentless beast at this moment and I think he might just fuck me into the ground.
The story was light and entertaining. I liked being able to travel to Italy with the sights and sounds through the author’s words. The sex scenes took a while to happen, but once it did they were plenty and satisfying.
One Hot Italian Summer is a story of breaking free from the past. It would appeal to readers looking for an easy and light summer read.
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
January 20, 2025
a bunch of adorable lines and moments, a man in contact with his emotions, the most clever 10-year old boy, a sculptor and a writer falling in love, immaculate summer vibes at an italian villa... what more could i ask for? now, there were some corny lines too but the good outweighed the bad so i say this was a successful re-read 🙂↕️
↪ ★★★¾ stars (aka 3.75★)
↪ ★★★¾ stars (aka 3.75★)
July 7, 2022
4 ✨
A romance book without miscommunication AND an external conflict? Groundbreaking.
I really liked this book. It follows Grace, a Scottish writer, and Claudio, an Italian artist.
Grace escapes to Italy for the summer to try to write her book after the death of her best friend/writing partner. Her agent, Jana, sends her down to her villa, which should have been empty. Claudio, Jana’s ex, and their son unexpectedly come home early from vacation and catch Grace in their villa. And a summer of romance ensues.
“I know that if you trust me, if you give me your heart, I will carry it with me. I will be kind and gentle with it. I will always keep it tucked next to mine. So whatever happened to the future, it doesn’t matter. I’ll have your heart and you’ll have mine.”
This book was really fluffy. Claudio is such a simp and falls for Grace first, which I l o v e.
Read if you’re in the mood for a swoony summer and food-filled romance in a small town.
A romance book without miscommunication AND an external conflict? Groundbreaking.
I really liked this book. It follows Grace, a Scottish writer, and Claudio, an Italian artist.
Grace escapes to Italy for the summer to try to write her book after the death of her best friend/writing partner. Her agent, Jana, sends her down to her villa, which should have been empty. Claudio, Jana’s ex, and their son unexpectedly come home early from vacation and catch Grace in their villa. And a summer of romance ensues.
“I know that if you trust me, if you give me your heart, I will carry it with me. I will be kind and gentle with it. I will always keep it tucked next to mine. So whatever happened to the future, it doesn’t matter. I’ll have your heart and you’ll have mine.”
This book was really fluffy. Claudio is such a simp and falls for Grace first, which I l o v e.
Read if you’re in the mood for a swoony summer and food-filled romance in a small town.
August 3, 2020
One Hot Italian Summer was such a wonderful and feel good friends to lovers romance. I was literally in Italy drinking Aperol Spritz and eating delicious food all thanks to the author and her writing. I’ve been to Italy before numerous times and she nailed the ambiance to perfection.
Claudio, his son Vanni and their guest Grace were terrific characters. I liked them all and their dynamics worked.
Grace did a lot of evolving while living with Claudio and Vanni. They both made her come out of her shell especially Claudio. The chemistry and friendship between him and Grace was great. I enjoyed how they both learned from one another and their friendship that slowly turned into more was well explored.
Claudio is an amazing father to Vanni but most definitely also a friend. He has a loving and tender side to him but also a possessive side when it comes to Grace. I didn’t see that one coming and loved it. He made me swoon and hot. Like the Italian man he is.
What I really appreciate about the story is that there wasn’t any over the top drama. It was adults who communicated when there was a problem and it got solved.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read this author and I’m so glad I did cause OHIS was just what I needed.
4 My Muse Stars
Claudio, his son Vanni and their guest Grace were terrific characters. I liked them all and their dynamics worked.
Grace did a lot of evolving while living with Claudio and Vanni. They both made her come out of her shell especially Claudio. The chemistry and friendship between him and Grace was great. I enjoyed how they both learned from one another and their friendship that slowly turned into more was well explored.
Claudio is an amazing father to Vanni but most definitely also a friend. He has a loving and tender side to him but also a possessive side when it comes to Grace. I didn’t see that one coming and loved it. He made me swoon and hot. Like the Italian man he is.
What I really appreciate about the story is that there wasn’t any over the top drama. It was adults who communicated when there was a problem and it got solved.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read this author and I’m so glad I did cause OHIS was just what I needed.
4 My Muse Stars
May 19, 2021
One Hot Italian Sumer book was the perfect distraction I was in dire need of. There were so many elements I really loved about this story.
Scottish author, Grace Harper (30), was such a relatable and down to earth heroine. Her thought process, concerns (especially in regards to being Claudio's muse) and actions were so believable, that I felt like the author had tapped into my head somehow. The grief that consumed her over losing her best friend and writing partner made her journey in Italy such a memorable experience.
Single father and Sculptor, Claudio Romano (36)... oh my gosh... where can I find a guy like him?! He was so romantic and had such a way with words. He was intense, without being overly possessive. I couldn't help but swoon and fall in love with him too. I love that he was so devoted and passionate towards Grace. He doesn't play games, he's straight forward and knows what he wants. He was so good for Grace, he was like the yin to her yang.
The stakes in this romance was believable too. As an overthinker myself, I understood Grace's apprehensions in starting a relationship with Claudio. Grace's concerns over Jana's Claudio's ex-wife and son, Jana and Vanni, her career, her identity were things I genuinely believed to be real obstacles. I also loved that they communicated like real mature adults. Especially in regards to Claudio's ex-wife. I mean, they're in their thirties after all!
I loved Karina Halle's writing style, I felt like I was really transported to Italy. The vivid writing and imagery was just perfect. I've never really thought about going to Italy, but now, I would love to go. Tuscany is going on my bucket list.
The only reason I had to deduct a star was because I thought there could've been more development in certain areas. I feel like Grace's relationship with Claudio's son felt very neglected. Even Claudio's relationship with his own son felt very odd. I don't know, Vanni was also a pretty strange kid though. Also... If I had to nitpick... dude on the cover does not look 36 but it's also the time of the year for my eye exam, so what do I know.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I've already re-read it a few times and can see myself reading this again in the near future.
Rating: 4/5
Scottish author, Grace Harper (30), was such a relatable and down to earth heroine. Her thought process, concerns (especially in regards to being Claudio's muse) and actions were so believable, that I felt like the author had tapped into my head somehow. The grief that consumed her over losing her best friend and writing partner made her journey in Italy such a memorable experience.
Single father and Sculptor, Claudio Romano (36)... oh my gosh... where can I find a guy like him?! He was so romantic and had such a way with words. He was intense, without being overly possessive. I couldn't help but swoon and fall in love with him too. I love that he was so devoted and passionate towards Grace. He doesn't play games, he's straight forward and knows what he wants. He was so good for Grace, he was like the yin to her yang.
The stakes in this romance was believable too. As an overthinker myself, I understood Grace's apprehensions in starting a relationship with Claudio. Grace's concerns over Jana's Claudio's ex-wife and son, Jana and Vanni, her career, her identity were things I genuinely believed to be real obstacles. I also loved that they communicated like real mature adults. Especially in regards to Claudio's ex-wife. I mean, they're in their thirties after all!
I loved Karina Halle's writing style, I felt like I was really transported to Italy. The vivid writing and imagery was just perfect. I've never really thought about going to Italy, but now, I would love to go. Tuscany is going on my bucket list.
The only reason I had to deduct a star was because I thought there could've been more development in certain areas. I feel like Grace's relationship with Claudio's son felt very neglected. Even Claudio's relationship with his own son felt very odd. I don't know, Vanni was also a pretty strange kid though. Also... If I had to nitpick... dude on the cover does not look 36 but it's also the time of the year for my eye exam, so what do I know.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I've already re-read it a few times and can see myself reading this again in the near future.
Rating: 4/5
September 18, 2020
If you want to escape from the shithole that is the year 2020, this is the perfect book to dive into.
One Hot Italian Summer is the story of Grace, a writer plagued by grief after the loss of her writing partner. Trying to write her first book on her own, her agent sends her to Italy hoping to give Grace the inspiration she needs to finish her book. There she meets Claudio and his son Vanni, who both give her a new perspective on life and try to help her mend her broken wings.
This is the most amazing novel to escape into! In the year where we can’t travel (at least I as an American can’t), I was able to mentally go to Italy through this book and block out the crap going on around me. Karina Halle is an author I have loved for years, she’s one of the better romance writers out there. While I may not as religiously read her books as I once did, I still purchase them and when I have time I like to cozy up into one and escape my troubles. And this book is perfect for that.
One Hot Italian Summer is the story of Grace, a writer plagued by grief after the loss of her writing partner. Trying to write her first book on her own, her agent sends her to Italy hoping to give Grace the inspiration she needs to finish her book. There she meets Claudio and his son Vanni, who both give her a new perspective on life and try to help her mend her broken wings.
This is the most amazing novel to escape into! In the year where we can’t travel (at least I as an American can’t), I was able to mentally go to Italy through this book and block out the crap going on around me. Karina Halle is an author I have loved for years, she’s one of the better romance writers out there. While I may not as religiously read her books as I once did, I still purchase them and when I have time I like to cozy up into one and escape my troubles. And this book is perfect for that.
September 3, 2020
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
One Hot Italian Summer is a pretty straight-forward contemporary romance without unnecessary drama. I love that Karina Halle always takes the reader on a trip around the world with each of her book. This time around we find ourselves in Tuscany, Italy. I love her Italian heroes, they are just so passionate and not afraid to go after what they want. Claudio is definitely a swoon-worthy book boyfriend with a very smart and interesting son. Their father/son relationship felt real instead of picture perfect. They have their issues but Claudio is doing his best in raising Vanni as a single father. Claudio is a very talented artist/sculptor and I really loved how highlighted this aspect was in the book. He has many talents and I loved discovering those together with Grace our heroine in this book. Grace is a bit insecure and doesn't know how to continue her career as an author after losing her co-writer. She is trying to find herself and I think Claudio did a really good job in showing that she is talented and that she matters.
So why did I rate this book three stars then you may wonder. I just couldn't completely connect to the characters. I especially had a hard time in relating and empathizing with Grace. It was a bit easier with Claudio. I wasn't convinced by their love for each other. I obviously saw the strong attraction between them and the sex scenes were very steamy. But without my connection to the characters those didn't excite me as much. I still enjoyed the story and the beautiful setting, and the interaction between the main characters with Claudio's son Vanni was a great addition to the story. I think One Hot Italian Summer is a great summer read which will also help you escape and travel the beautiful Italy for a little bit. If you enjoy what you read in the blurb then I highly recommend you to pick this book up.
One Hot Italian Summer is a pretty straight-forward contemporary romance without unnecessary drama. I love that Karina Halle always takes the reader on a trip around the world with each of her book. This time around we find ourselves in Tuscany, Italy. I love her Italian heroes, they are just so passionate and not afraid to go after what they want. Claudio is definitely a swoon-worthy book boyfriend with a very smart and interesting son. Their father/son relationship felt real instead of picture perfect. They have their issues but Claudio is doing his best in raising Vanni as a single father. Claudio is a very talented artist/sculptor and I really loved how highlighted this aspect was in the book. He has many talents and I loved discovering those together with Grace our heroine in this book. Grace is a bit insecure and doesn't know how to continue her career as an author after losing her co-writer. She is trying to find herself and I think Claudio did a really good job in showing that she is talented and that she matters.
So why did I rate this book three stars then you may wonder. I just couldn't completely connect to the characters. I especially had a hard time in relating and empathizing with Grace. It was a bit easier with Claudio. I wasn't convinced by their love for each other. I obviously saw the strong attraction between them and the sex scenes were very steamy. But without my connection to the characters those didn't excite me as much. I still enjoyed the story and the beautiful setting, and the interaction between the main characters with Claudio's son Vanni was a great addition to the story. I think One Hot Italian Summer is a great summer read which will also help you escape and travel the beautiful Italy for a little bit. If you enjoy what you read in the blurb then I highly recommend you to pick this book up.
July 29, 2020
”Love is chaotic and messy and maybe nothing will ever feel the same again, and maybe that’s the point of it all. Maybe that’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”
Things I love in 2020: summer reads with little conflict, laughing and swooning from page to page, traveling via romance novels. Check off that entire list because once again, Karina Halle gives it her all with One Hot Italian Summer!
One Hot Italian Summer is the story of Grace Harper. She’s an author dealing with life after losing her writing partner. Looking for inspiration, she heads to Italy to write her first solo work. What she’s not expecting is Italian artist Claudio Romano and his son (love him!) to also be there.
”I am his, and he is mine.
Inspired, desired, and completely in love.”
With gorgeous story progression, relationship building, and knowledge of the location, Karina Halle paints a picture of Tuscany that has me wanting to book the next flight out. This story has minimal conflict which I really love and felt was needed for Grace and Claudio. Their love was fast and hard and nothing (not even Claudio’s ex-wife) could stand in their way. Once again, another ace for Karina Halle!
September 11, 2020
If you find yourself falling in love with me, don’t stop it. Don’t hold back. Don’t deny yourself that. Let yourself love me.”
My Thoughts: The following are my thoughts about this book:
General:
- Trigger warning-loss of a close friend. The heroine recently lost a close friend and she is still coping with her grief. This happened off page and is only mentioned to help the reader understand why the heroine is sad and struggling.
- Audio: N/A. I read the book
- Setting: Italy
Characters:
- Claudio (36, sculptor): Claudio is a single dad to a gifted 10 year old boy named Vanni. He’s a great dad and a talented artist. His father is a famous painter and although Claudio is successful, he struggles a bit with unfair comparisons and expectations based on his faher’s success. He’s a pretty easy-going guy.
- Grace (30, author): Grace was part of a writing duo and with the loss of her partner she’s struggling with confidence and who she is as a writer and a person.
- Together:
- I felt their chemistry was lacking. It probably had something to do with the fact that Grace annoyed me some, but regardless, they weren't my favorite couple and didn’t wow me in any way.
The story:
- Overall, I didn't FEEL anything. Story-wise there was no zing and it was a bit boring. I didn't connect with the characters and lots of times I felt like there was too much inner dialogue with Grace. There was too much “telling” and not enough “experiencing”.
- I felt there was a lack of chemistry in the beginning. I can get behind a slow burn - no problem. But, once again, I have to FEEL the chemistry and get the tingles during the "build up" and sadly there were zero tingles for me. It got a little more spicy after the first bedroom scene, but by then I just wasn’t invested in the couple.
- Grace's lack of confidence got old. The fact that she didn't know who she was without her writing partner made sense from a career perspective. But, it's not like she was 20 and facing life on her own. She was 30, with significant life experiences under her belt. So her lack of confidence in herself made her come across as weak. Her age, her actions, her insecurities, her confusion on who she really was as a person.....the package just didn’t fit together.
- I loved the setting. It made me want to visit Italy again.
Other:
- Pet Peeve: the guy on the cover is not a good representation of the hero in the book. How old is the guy on the cover????? IMO...nowhere near 40!! If you are going to have an "older" character, then have an older model on the cover. Believe me....there are PLENTY of sexy men in the 40ish (and above) range (can anyone say Dylan McDermott!!! Yum❣️❣️)
- Claudio didn't feel like an authentic Italian. He spoke too perfect English. I have certainly heard foreigners speak great English, but because it’s not their first language things don’t come out perfect. Therefore, he didn't "seem" Italian to me.
Overview:
- POV: dual POV, but the majority is from Grace's POV
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? so-so. Grace's lack of confidence just rubbed me the wrong way and that made her somewhat annoying to me.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 47%
- First time they sleep together: 53%
- First time they say I Love You: H 81%, h 93%
- steamy? 0-50%-no. After 50% the steam factor picked up.
- OW/OM drama? the ex is an obstacle (although the ex doesn't know she's an obstacle 😏)
- H/h cheat? no
- Did I skip pages? Unfortunately, yes
- Big secrets? no
- Did I cry? no
- Did I laugh? no
- Cliffhanger? no
- HEA? yes
- Epilogue? 1 year later
- Recommend? I wasn’t very impressed, so no recommendation from me
My Thoughts: The following are my thoughts about this book:
General:
- Trigger warning-loss of a close friend. The heroine recently lost a close friend and she is still coping with her grief. This happened off page and is only mentioned to help the reader understand why the heroine is sad and struggling.
- Audio: N/A. I read the book
- Setting: Italy
Characters:
- Claudio (36, sculptor): Claudio is a single dad to a gifted 10 year old boy named Vanni. He’s a great dad and a talented artist. His father is a famous painter and although Claudio is successful, he struggles a bit with unfair comparisons and expectations based on his faher’s success. He’s a pretty easy-going guy.
- Grace (30, author): Grace was part of a writing duo and with the loss of her partner she’s struggling with confidence and who she is as a writer and a person.
- Together:
- I felt their chemistry was lacking. It probably had something to do with the fact that Grace annoyed me some, but regardless, they weren't my favorite couple and didn’t wow me in any way.
The story:
- Overall, I didn't FEEL anything. Story-wise there was no zing and it was a bit boring. I didn't connect with the characters and lots of times I felt like there was too much inner dialogue with Grace. There was too much “telling” and not enough “experiencing”.
- I felt there was a lack of chemistry in the beginning. I can get behind a slow burn - no problem. But, once again, I have to FEEL the chemistry and get the tingles during the "build up" and sadly there were zero tingles for me. It got a little more spicy after the first bedroom scene, but by then I just wasn’t invested in the couple.
- Grace's lack of confidence got old. The fact that she didn't know who she was without her writing partner made sense from a career perspective. But, it's not like she was 20 and facing life on her own. She was 30, with significant life experiences under her belt. So her lack of confidence in herself made her come across as weak. Her age, her actions, her insecurities, her confusion on who she really was as a person.....the package just didn’t fit together.
- I loved the setting. It made me want to visit Italy again.
Other:
- Pet Peeve: the guy on the cover is not a good representation of the hero in the book. How old is the guy on the cover????? IMO...nowhere near 40!! If you are going to have an "older" character, then have an older model on the cover. Believe me....there are PLENTY of sexy men in the 40ish (and above) range (can anyone say Dylan McDermott!!! Yum❣️❣️)
- Claudio didn't feel like an authentic Italian. He spoke too perfect English. I have certainly heard foreigners speak great English, but because it’s not their first language things don’t come out perfect. Therefore, he didn't "seem" Italian to me.
Overview:
- POV: dual POV, but the majority is from Grace's POV
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? so-so. Grace's lack of confidence just rubbed me the wrong way and that made her somewhat annoying to me.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 47%
- First time they sleep together: 53%
- First time they say I Love You: H 81%, h 93%
- steamy? 0-50%-no. After 50% the steam factor picked up.
- OW/OM drama? the ex is an obstacle (although the ex doesn't know she's an obstacle 😏)
- H/h cheat? no
- Did I skip pages? Unfortunately, yes
- Big secrets? no
- Did I cry? no
- Did I laugh? no
- Cliffhanger? no
- HEA? yes
- Epilogue? 1 year later
- Recommend? I wasn’t very impressed, so no recommendation from me
July 12, 2022
After a sting of books from Miss Halle that I read recently, One Hot Italian Summer is a disappointment. I was expecting so much from Miss Halle with her signature writing of putting breath taking landscape to portray her story.
One Hot Italian Summer is really not as hot as beautiful Italy during summer. The story is dragging on and on and on. On the top of that, Grace is just OTT drama queen with her OTT insecurity. Her inner dialog about Claudio is not cute at all. In fact she is annoying. She blamed her depression to the murder of her BFF in Ireland. I want to believe her depression but Miss Halle did not give me much of background plot about her friendship with her BFF to make the depression believable.
I listened to the audio book during my work hour. Listening to it makes me so sleepy.
2 stars
One Hot Italian Summer is really not as hot as beautiful Italy during summer. The story is dragging on and on and on. On the top of that, Grace is just OTT drama queen with her OTT insecurity. Her inner dialog about Claudio is not cute at all. In fact she is annoying. She blamed her depression to the murder of her BFF in Ireland. I want to believe her depression but Miss Halle did not give me much of background plot about her friendship with her BFF to make the depression believable.
I listened to the audio book during my work hour. Listening to it makes me so sleepy.
2 stars
August 13, 2020
I am yelling at myself!!
after seeing how other readers loved this book and all the five stars reviews..
So sad... it was an okay read, but nothing more for me...
The author will definitely take you to Italy and you will enjoy it!
Kudos for that and amazing add of Italian! (Which some authors need to take notes from when using another language in their books, cough TL Swan cough)
Light & sweet read!!
An escape read & fictional perfect vacation read!!
If you are in a mood for that, check this book out...
And damn this cover...is mmmhmm!!
3,5 stars
after seeing how other readers loved this book and all the five stars reviews..
So sad... it was an okay read, but nothing more for me...
The author will definitely take you to Italy and you will enjoy it!
Kudos for that and amazing add of Italian! (Which some authors need to take notes from when using another language in their books, cough TL Swan cough)
Light & sweet read!!
An escape read & fictional perfect vacation read!!
If you are in a mood for that, check this book out...
And damn this cover...is mmmhmm!!
3,5 stars
August 16, 2020
4.5 Stars
July 29, 2020
➳ Rate: 4,7 / 5 stars
Are you looking for the perfect summer read that will allow you to travel outside your country? Look no further cause you found it!
What's better than a book set in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, you say? One that has a beautiful, sexy and emotional love story! Claudio and Grace will have you swooning so hard. And also super jealous of not only their flirtation, friendship but all the places and things they do together in Tuscany and Florence. I absolutely loved the Italian setting in this book, it was so dreamy. By this time last summer, I had just been to Florence so it was super fun to revisit the city with these characters.
I adored this book! From the setting to the characters to the story, everything hit its mark for me. Slow burn, single dad, emotional, super sexy and just all the feels. I loved it!
➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ LIVE EARLY! Order at: Amazon UK ⁕ Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Blog ⁕ Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
Are you looking for the perfect summer read that will allow you to travel outside your country? Look no further cause you found it!
What's better than a book set in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, you say? One that has a beautiful, sexy and emotional love story! Claudio and Grace will have you swooning so hard. And also super jealous of not only their flirtation, friendship but all the places and things they do together in Tuscany and Florence. I absolutely loved the Italian setting in this book, it was so dreamy. By this time last summer, I had just been to Florence so it was super fun to revisit the city with these characters.
I adored this book! From the setting to the characters to the story, everything hit its mark for me. Slow burn, single dad, emotional, super sexy and just all the feels. I loved it!
➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ LIVE EARLY! Order at: Amazon UK ⁕ Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Blog ⁕ Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
October 16, 2020
I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler-free way. Unfortunately, there is still always a risk of slight spoilers despite my best efforts. If you feel something in my review is a spoiler please let me know. Thank you.
Grace is an author out to write her first book alone, but she is struggling. Her agent has a great idea. She should stay at her place in Italy for a few weeks to get inspired. Only after she gets there. She gets caught by Claudio and Vanni, a very handsome Italian and his son Vanni, while hanging out around the pool, naked. Turns out her agent, Janna, sent her to her ex-husband's place. Now, Grace is staying with the two men for a while and while she enjoys their company, she can't deny the attraction she feels for Claudio.
Likes:
~Steamy hot romance
~Italy
~Italians
~All the amazing food dishes mentioned.
~The places the go. It's almost like a vacation reading this book.
Dislikes:
~More sexy times would have been ok with me.
What a great romance. So many things to love. I love the setting the most. Italy. The number one place to visit on my bucket list, and after reading this book, I want to be there all the more. The story was good too. The romance was sizzling. I couldn't ask for a better love story to enjoy. I'll be following this author from now on.
Grace is an author out to write her first book alone, but she is struggling. Her agent has a great idea. She should stay at her place in Italy for a few weeks to get inspired. Only after she gets there. She gets caught by Claudio and Vanni, a very handsome Italian and his son Vanni, while hanging out around the pool, naked. Turns out her agent, Janna, sent her to her ex-husband's place. Now, Grace is staying with the two men for a while and while she enjoys their company, she can't deny the attraction she feels for Claudio.
Likes:
~Steamy hot romance
~Italy
~Italians
~All the amazing food dishes mentioned.
~The places the go. It's almost like a vacation reading this book.
Dislikes:
~More sexy times would have been ok with me.
What a great romance. So many things to love. I love the setting the most. Italy. The number one place to visit on my bucket list, and after reading this book, I want to be there all the more. The story was good too. The romance was sizzling. I couldn't ask for a better love story to enjoy. I'll be following this author from now on.
August 3, 2020
“You have no idea how perfect you are,” I whisper. “Your skin. Your bones. Your build. You’re art, Grace. And I think you might be my muse.”
4.5/5
I loved the story and the characters a lot, the setting in Italy was well described and made me want to flight to Tuscany so bad. Grace and Claudio had such great chemistry and the way their relationship was forbidden and the fact that they also lived in the same house made their relationship and moments together sexier and hotter. It was nice to see Grace trying and working on writing something new and discovering herself again and Claudio finding his muse for his art. The scenes with Vanni, Claudio's son, were also very cute and funny. Overall, One Hot Italian Summer was definitely the perfect summer read!
June 4, 2021
After her co-author unexpectedly passes away, Grace is feeling stuck, unsure how to move forward as a solo author, insecure about her ability as a writer. And as a result, she has serious writer’s block. So her new agent, Jana offers Grace her Italian villa for a month to refresh, inspire & get some dang writing done. Grace knows that is just the thing she needs and doesn’t have to be asked twice before saying yes.
But on her first day there, Grace is surprised to learn that the villa doesn’t indeed belong to Jana, but her extremely handsome Italian ex-husband, Claudio, who will be staying there full-time with his and Jana’s son all summer. Instead of kicking Grace to the curb, he offers for her to stay.
Claudio is also an artist, but a sculptor, not a writer like Grace. The two of them have a companionship that turns into Grace being his muse. And in turn, a passionate love affair takes flight. They know their relationship is all types of wrong, but they just can’t resist the forbidden...
One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle is by far my favorite book by this author to date. It was sexy, passionate, adventurous. I could feel myself there in Italy, eating the amazing food, taking in the gorgeous sights. I wasn’t expecting to love this romance as much as I did and now I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. It’s the perfect summer read, that’s for sure! 5/5 stars.
But on her first day there, Grace is surprised to learn that the villa doesn’t indeed belong to Jana, but her extremely handsome Italian ex-husband, Claudio, who will be staying there full-time with his and Jana’s son all summer. Instead of kicking Grace to the curb, he offers for her to stay.
Claudio is also an artist, but a sculptor, not a writer like Grace. The two of them have a companionship that turns into Grace being his muse. And in turn, a passionate love affair takes flight. They know their relationship is all types of wrong, but they just can’t resist the forbidden...
One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle is by far my favorite book by this author to date. It was sexy, passionate, adventurous. I could feel myself there in Italy, eating the amazing food, taking in the gorgeous sights. I wasn’t expecting to love this romance as much as I did and now I’m kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. It’s the perfect summer read, that’s for sure! 5/5 stars.
October 21, 2022
After 2 years of wanting to read this i finally did it lol, and why on earth did i wait so long ??? I love Karina Halle so I’m not surprised. Single hot Italian dad, who lives in Tuscany, is a rich artist, and falls first? I don’t think i need to give you any more info here
September 10, 2020
4-4.5 ⭐'s
This is a really sweet, romantic love story between an Italian man, Claudio, and a Scottish woman, Grace. Karina Halle has a way with mixing up different ethnicities and making them work and this is no exception.
Grace is a writer and she's been struggling. Her agent suggests she takes a vacation in sunny Italy away from dreary Scotland and she has just the place. Turns out it's not exactly her place but her ex husbands who just happens to show up along with his ten year old son.
Claudio is quite gracious and lets Grace stay there...and the longer she stays, the more interested he becomes. However, they have a huge roadblock besides the fact they live in different countries and her agent is his ex wife.
Claudio is a sculptor so he knows a thing or two about struggling and finding your muse and he thinks his muse is Grace. After talking her into posing for him, things get intimate and you know the rumor about Italian men, well, all I can say is PHEWWWW!
I really enjoyed these two and Claudio's son, Vanni. I thought it was great the way they worked through things and their connection was amazing. Vanni's a bit ahead of his time but he also fits right in and gives some much needed humor to the story.
The epilogue was pretty special. All the things that Claudio did for Grace was really sweet.
This is a really sweet, romantic love story between an Italian man, Claudio, and a Scottish woman, Grace. Karina Halle has a way with mixing up different ethnicities and making them work and this is no exception.
Grace is a writer and she's been struggling. Her agent suggests she takes a vacation in sunny Italy away from dreary Scotland and she has just the place. Turns out it's not exactly her place but her ex husbands who just happens to show up along with his ten year old son.
Claudio is quite gracious and lets Grace stay there...and the longer she stays, the more interested he becomes. However, they have a huge roadblock besides the fact they live in different countries and her agent is his ex wife.
Claudio is a sculptor so he knows a thing or two about struggling and finding your muse and he thinks his muse is Grace. After talking her into posing for him, things get intimate and you know the rumor about Italian men, well, all I can say is PHEWWWW!
I really enjoyed these two and Claudio's son, Vanni. I thought it was great the way they worked through things and their connection was amazing. Vanni's a bit ahead of his time but he also fits right in and gives some much needed humor to the story.
The epilogue was pretty special. All the things that Claudio did for Grace was really sweet.
May 9, 2025
One Hot Italian Summer wasn't for me. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Even the first kiss was delayed until 48%. By the time steam was rising from the pages, I didn't care anymore. Also, Claudio was quite romantic but for the longest time Grace was closed off. I can understand where she was coming from, but nevertheless, I found it annoying.
However, Grace didn't seem to have a problem saying yes to food or wine. There were 65 meal references and 90 for wine. That's without counting aperol spritzs, beer, and aperitifs.
However, Grace didn't seem to have a problem saying yes to food or wine. There were 65 meal references and 90 for wine. That's without counting aperol spritzs, beer, and aperitifs.
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