For the reasonable price of $1, Natalie Malone just bought herself an abandoned villa on the Amalfi Coast. With a detailed spreadsheet and an ancient key, she’s arrived in Italy ready to renovate—and only six months to do it. Which seemed reasonable until architect Pietro Indelicato began critically watching her every move…
From the sweeping ocean views to the scent of the lemon trees, there’s nothing Pietro loves more than his hometown. And after seeing too many botched jobs and garish design choices, he’s done watching from the sidelines. As far as he’s concerned, Natalie should quit before the project drains her entire bank account and her ridiculously sunny optimism.
With Natalie determined to move forward, the gorgeous architect reluctantly agrees to pitch in, giving her a real chance to succeed. But when the fine print on Natalie’s contract is brought to light, she might have no choice but to leave her dream, and Pietro, behind.
MY REVIEW
It Takes a Villa transports readers to the beautiful and unforgettable Amalfi Coast where Natalie has just gotten herself the deal of a lifetime. Armed with a 6-month renovation plan and a detailed spreadsheet, Natalie’s ready to make her dreams come true. However, with local architect, Pietro, watching her every move, things don’t go quite as planned.
It Takes a Villa pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the idea of this story and all of the complications that could arise from renovating in a foreign country. I thought the author did a really good job with her description of things and found it very easy to visualize everything.
I adored Natalie’s ambition. She was tough and didn’t let much knock her down. Pietro loves his hometown and will do whatever it takes to stop renovators from ruining his town. Together, I thought that Pietro and Natalie had some wonderful chemistry. I enjoyed the tension between the two of them. If I had any complaints it would be the slow-burning romance. I’m not the biggest fan of slow burns, but when done right, I really find them enjoyable. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. In other words, the slow burn was too slow for this reader.
Overall, I thought this book was an ok read. I enjoyed the setting, the renovation drama, and the intrigue along the way. The chemistry and tension between Pietro and Natalie was on point, but for me, the slow burn fell flat.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
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