Book Review - From Italy With Love by Jules Wake

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Title: From Italy With Love

Author: Jules Wake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Publication Date: 14th May 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

‘To my niece I leave the Ferrari GT250… On the proviso that she takes it across Europe to Maranello within the next three weeks. Only on successful completion of the journey to a prescribed route, will the car be hers…’

Home-loving Laurie thinks she’s happy – she has a safe, reliable boyfriend and working in her local library is what she thought she always wanted. That is until she inherits a vintage Ferrari from her eccentric Uncle Miles and the conditions of the inheritance are far from simple. To keep the car Laurie will have to drive across Europe with the gorgeous but unreliable Cameron Matthews as her guide… and Cam’s motives for helping are not all that altruistic.

Cam isn’t particularly thrilled about escorting his late pal Miles’ dull mouse of a niece on this wild goose chase but all he has to do is get Laurie safely to Italy and he’s sure the Ferrari is his.

But Uncle Miles had a few tricks up his sleeve and the route he’s planned takes Cam and Laurie on a road trip they’ll never forget. From sampling the delights of the Loire Valley to the breathtaking beauty of Lake Garda, this is one journey that has more twists and turns than either of them could ever have imagined…

I knew I was going to enjoy this book from the first chapter, which features an eccentric funeral. Uncle Miles had decreed that there was to be no black at his funeral, and so all 4 of his ex wives showed up wearing incredibly bright clothes, and yet his niece Laurie, and boyfriend Robert show up in Navy, which gives an instant insight as to their personalities.

Laurie is a home lover, she has lived with her boyfriend Robert, for two years, works in a library and lives a very steady life, no risks, no real excitement, and Robert seems to be doing his best to contain Laurie. 

So Uncle Miles will, comes as a bit of a surprise to Laurie. He has left her a classic Ferrari GT250, so long as she take it on a journey to the home of Ferrari, Maranello within 3 weeks,, on a pre-designated route, and having to stop at certain places to send postcards along the route.  She also has to be accompanied by Cameron Matthews. 

Cam has agreed to look after Mile's niece, and is hoping to be able to buy the Ferrari at the end of the trip. He just has to decide how to persuade Laurie to sell it. 

Laurie isn't too keen on the idea of the trip, but the alternative of the car going to her mum if she forfeits, is not an option, and spurs her on to take a chance. Robert is not happy about any of this, and shows himself to be of dubious nature. 

Robert is very much the villain of this story, or at least I took an almost instant dislike to him, and my opinion on him had no reason to change. I honestly don't know what Laurie sees in him.

Whereas with Cam, I would like to take him, and the Ferrari and run away with them both. I love fast cars and I loved Cam. He is sexy, caring, and wow does he know classic cars. He clearly loves the Ferrari, but does he go to any length of make it his own?

I loved Laurie, she is s surprising lady, she really develops during the road trip, and I found myself liking her more and more. Away from Robert and expectations, she really comes into her own, and its a joy to watch her journey. 

I completely and utterly enjoyed this book. I would call it a romantic comedy, and there are plenty of scenes to keep a smile on you face. I felt like I was along for the ride, and wish I had been tucked away in the car, enjoying the thrills it was delivering. 

From Italy With Love is an entertaining book, which will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Thank you to Harper Impulse and Netgalley for my review copy of this book. This is my honest review.

From Italy With Love is out tomorrow.