4.5 Smooches

Synopsis

When her mother’s incessant matchmaking hits an all-time high, Georgie Archibald does what any sensible woman would do: she flees the country.

Seeking refuge in the picturesque seaside village of Vernazza, Italy, Georgie’s only plan is to lie low, gorge herself on gelato, and let the wine and waves wash her troubles away…that is until she wakes up in a bed that belongs to the most romantic-looking man she’s ever seen.

Gianluca.

After going out of his way to rescue her, the former London financier turned mysterious recluse makes it clear that despite acting as her white knight, he has no plans to co-star in her fairytale.

But Georgie isn’t asking for his heart—she’s merely intrigued.

After all, Gianluca isn’t just gorgeous—tall and tan from days spent in the sun—his touch sets her world on fire. With him, Georgie experiences the most intoxicating passion she’s ever known, and it only takes a few steamy nights for her to realize that sometimes running away from trouble is the best way to find it.

Review

“The why on Earth are you in Italy?”  “To find love, of course.”

R.S. Grey took me on a glorious journey to the coast of Italy and by the end of the book I had not only fallen for Gianluca and Georgie but with Italy itself.

‘When she smiled, the world smiled with her, and more than once, I found myself wishing I was the man she deserved to be with, the one she had come to Italy to find.’

As much as I adorded the brroding Gianluca and all of his damaged baggage full issues it was the fun, spunky and hilarious Georgie who stole the show for me. She was genuine and sweet and unbelievably optimistic. Despite the fact that she ran away to Italy to get away from her mothers incessant matchmaking she has not given up on love. When she starts to fall for Gianluca she knows the tragedy in his past has him closed off to the idea of loving another but she simply cannot deny how she feels and what she wants. She is hopeless and yet hopeful all at the same time. I adored her. Now let’s talk about the brooding sexy man that is Gianluca. He has been through one of the worst tragedies possible in his young life. It left him a changed man. He is closed off and at times impossible. None of this stops the instant crush Georgie forms on him and even as she learns more about the man, who is the farthest thing from what she is looking for, she cannot help but fall for him more and more everyday. Soon they go from strangers, to two people tolerating the other, to friends and then lovers. But none of it can be permanent. Where do they all go from here?

“Oh my Liam Neeson, I’ve been taken!”

A Place In The Sun had me swooning, laughing and downright happy. At times my heart deeply ached for the pain she was put through. But then she would say something off the wall and hilarious I would circle back round to this being a romantic comedy. This format really works for R.S. Grey, as I knew it would, resulting in a book that steals your day away.

~miranda