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expatamber's review against another edition
3.0
This was an easy, quick and sweet read. Anyone with a love for Italy and classical music will certainly appreciate this romantic tale!
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/08/giveaway-review-american-girl-in-italy.html
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/08/giveaway-review-american-girl-in-italy.html
cinta's review against another edition
2.0
I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading it, I can only say that I wasted my time. Girl finds love abroad and faces difficulties and doubts... That kind of story has been done to death, so I was kind of expecting a different twist to it, maybe a more complicated plot with unpredictable events, but I was sorely disappointed. It is not an original story and it is a pity, because I like a good love story, especially if it is set in a beautiful and romantic place as Italy.
Carly is an oboist who is obsessed with her job and her music. Nothing matters to her apart from getting gigs, gigs, and more gigs. Obviously, she is not happy for having to go to Italy (imagine that, how does the symphony dare to interfere with her plans?) and she spends sulking about it for a good 50% of the book. And then we have the handsome, mysterious, dark Italian tour guide who will make her tingle in all the right places (cliché much?). So of course Michelangelo, who also has a secret plan of himself, will try to conquer the rude and distant American. All of this while Carly is on tour with the symphony, giving concerts around Italy, and stressing about her performance as a soloist with the diva opera singer (yeah, more clichés). The ending was totally predictable and way too convenient for every character.
Cliched and flat characters, unoriginal and uninteresting plot, no twists, no tension, and some editorial mistakes. I didn't enjoy reading this book.
After reading it, I can only say that I wasted my time. Girl finds love abroad and faces difficulties and doubts... That kind of story has been done to death, so I was kind of expecting a different twist to it, maybe a more complicated plot with unpredictable events, but I was sorely disappointed. It is not an original story and it is a pity, because I like a good love story, especially if it is set in a beautiful and romantic place as Italy.
Carly is an oboist who is obsessed with her job and her music. Nothing matters to her apart from getting gigs, gigs, and more gigs. Obviously, she is not happy for having to go to Italy (imagine that, how does the symphony dare to interfere with her plans?) and she spends sulking about it for a good 50% of the book. And then we have the handsome, mysterious, dark Italian tour guide who will make her tingle in all the right places (cliché much?). So of course Michelangelo, who also has a secret plan of himself, will try to conquer the rude and distant American. All of this while Carly is on tour with the symphony, giving concerts around Italy, and stressing about her performance as a soloist with the diva opera singer (yeah, more clichés). The ending was totally predictable and way too convenient for every character.
Cliched and flat characters, unoriginal and uninteresting plot, no twists, no tension, and some editorial mistakes. I didn't enjoy reading this book.
litjrzygrl's review against another edition
3.0
Carly is a work-a-holic, her music is her life and everything revolves around when she gets to play next. She is currently on a trip to Italy to play a number of concerts. While it sounds like a dream trip, things aren't going so great for Carly. Her best friend and fellow symphony member has focused more of her attention on her currently relationship with the director. Carly is stuck rooming with the diva singer, a woman who is obsessed with the aria the two are preforming. Carly is also missing some lucrative gigs and she's worried about losing her place among go to musicians. On top of all this, she's got a flirty thing going on with the groups tour guide Michelangelo.
Michelangelo is dealing with a plateful himself. He's not a tour guide, he has no idea what he's doing but he can't screw up this job. He needs the money to save his family's vineyard. He's got a thing for Carly, but he is also being 'chased' by the diva and nothing is going smoothly.
I liked this book; it was a sweet, quick read. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but something just didn't click for me. I was invested in the characters and I wanted to see how Carly and Michelangelo worked everything out in the end. I had a problem with some of the secondary plot details that didn't seem realistic and just added to give the story more tension. For example, Carly's story line with the diva just seemed forced. I would have believed that they were struggling with their piece and 'fighting' over Michelangelo without all the forced togetherness.
Even though it didn't completely work for me, I would still recommend this book to patrons who enjoy sweet romances.
Michelangelo is dealing with a plateful himself. He's not a tour guide, he has no idea what he's doing but he can't screw up this job. He needs the money to save his family's vineyard. He's got a thing for Carly, but he is also being 'chased' by the diva and nothing is going smoothly.
I liked this book; it was a sweet, quick read. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but something just didn't click for me. I was invested in the characters and I wanted to see how Carly and Michelangelo worked everything out in the end. I had a problem with some of the secondary plot details that didn't seem realistic and just added to give the story more tension. For example, Carly's story line with the diva just seemed forced. I would have believed that they were struggling with their piece and 'fighting' over Michelangelo without all the forced togetherness.
Even though it didn't completely work for me, I would still recommend this book to patrons who enjoy sweet romances.
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