Jennifer Young (5)

Giorgia Manfredi: daughter of Ugo, in line to inherit Hotel Villa Martino, has two half-siblings, has never been kissed, feels locked into a life she is not sure she wants, wants more.

Danny Davies: has made wrong choices in the past, is working to be a better man, has a difficult family situation, spends a lot of time running, wants more.

Matteo Arnolfi: thoughtful, calculating, works at the hotel, loves his boat, has a girlfriend, wants more

This is a book about life choices, love and family. When does one’s own needs become as important, or more so, than those of the people you admire and love? This is a dilemma 22 year old Giorgia is facing. She never has time off, is always over-protected by those around her and really wants to do more than what is lined up for her. Sure, running the hotel is something she knows and knows well but she would really like to find love – true love – like some she knows have found. And, one evening when she has her purse stolen from her, two men appear to help out and two very different men they are. Matteo works for her and might eventually step into management at the hotel while Danny works for the city as a gardener. Her heart knows what it wants but will she achieve her heart’s desire?

Though book three in the series this book stands on its own. That said, reading the first two books will provide more background for this story. It is a love story but also has a mystery to solve. In my opinion it fits best into the New Adult genre.

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.… (altro)

A feud carried through generations leads to harm for more than one in this story. Faustino Manfredi, in my opinion, is evil to the core and very very selfish. His need for money, power and the control of his family destroyed many throughout his 80+ years on earth. When Leona appears in book one to try and resolve the Manfredi-Castellano feud much happened including a kidnapping. In book two there are surprises, twists and turns that leave the characters trying to regroup over and over. Eventually there are happily ever after’s for Leona, her mother and Leona’s friend Skye but arriving at them is not easy for any of the players.

In this story I related most to Alexandra. She is strong willed, wealthy and divorced from Simon. After four years alone she reevaluates her life after Leona was threatened on a visit in Italy. Her reassessment of her life choices leads to growth, revelations, and acceptance along with a rekindled more mature love.

Skye is happy to be back with her love, Zack and not much is said about the two of them in this story.

Leona is as feisty as she was in book one but perhaps has grown and matured a bit although she is still flaunting her wealth and thinks she knows what is best. Her interest in Nico and his in her is a bit abrupt but I get the feeling Leona gets what she wants and she wants Nico. They have a few surprises and adjustments an assault and revelations that make them have to reassess who they are and where their loyalties lie, too.

This is a well written page turner with ups and downs that kept me reading through the night. I am not sure what the future holds for all the characters but enjoyed their stories as told in this novel.

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.… (altro)

What is love? Will Skye be able to tell when she is truly in love and if so, will she be able to trust that her feelings are real and then be able to commit to someone? The role models she has observed in her family have left her with big doubts and questions that lead her suddenly breaking off with Zack just before heading out on vacation with her friend Leona. Much happens while Leona and Skye are in Italy that tests their friendship, causes more questions for Skye, includes a bit of danger, and allows a possible happily ever after for Skye.

The characters are well developed and the story is well plotted. I believe this is a romance that will appeal to older teens and those in their early twenties. It is a clean romance that includes a few kisses and no steamy sex scenes.

I am curious who will have their story told in the next book of the series. Will it be the wealthy Leona? Will Nico or his sister Gigi have their story told or will it perhaps be Skye’s sister River who appears in book 2 of the series?

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book to read and review.… (altro)

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour for a fair and honest review. I rated it 5 out of 5 Stars + A Recommended Read -

A mixture of literary fiction and light romantic suspense, Looking for Charlotte by Jennifer Young is a book you won’t want to put down. Told in first person point of view, by two women separated by twenty or more years in age, this story is about loss, moving on and making choices for the future. Using an issue that’s become much too common in the news, a parent killing a child, Ms. Young reminds us that even when the sun goes down and the night is at its darkest moment, the sun will rise and bring a new dawn.

Ms. Young does a great job developing both Flora Wilson and Suzanne Anderson’s characters; two women who never meet but share similar backgrounds and in their own way are at a crossroad in their life. While it is the loss of Suzanne’s child, Charlotte, that takes both of these women on an emotional journey, and in Flora’s case a physical journey, it’s their inner emotional strength and determination to get closure that binds them together. I easily connected with both Flora and Suzanne and rooted for them both to succeed. I wanted Flora to locate little Charlotte’s body so that she could give Suzanne what every mother who has lost a child needs, the opportunity to hold or look at their child for the last time, and I wanted both women to be able to move on.

Ms. Young also does a good job with the secondary characters in the story and I really found myself liking Phillip, Flora’s co-worker and friend. A man who, with the right encouragement, might become more. I also enjoyed meeting her younger sister (who married well and doesn’t’ have to worry about things romantically or financially), and reading about her relationship with her adult children, though I think she should have given them a good swift kick to the pants for their poor behavior.

I also enjoyed getting to meet Suzanne’s family and it was interesting to see how she interacted with her mother, Marsha. I also enjoyed meeting Suzanne’s friends and reading about her experiences dealing with them after her loss. The mystery of where Suzanne’s now deceased husband buried their daughter was very well developed and took several twists and turns. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of selfish monster would do that to someone they once claimed to love. The story’s pace is steady and Ms. Young’s writing style is easy and enjoyable to follow, even when dealing with two characters in first person point of view.

Will Flora be able to locate Charlotte’s body and give Suzanne the physical closure she needs? Will both Flora and Suzanne grab onto the future and the hope it can bring them both? You’ll have to read Looking for Charlotte to find out, I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Ms. Young’s work. This was the first book I’ve read by her and it definitely won’t be the last.… (altro)