Ellesea Loves Reading: New Publication Spotlight & Review: Rome For The Summer by Lynne Shelby

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

New Publication Spotlight & Review: Rome For The Summer by Lynne Shelby

Rome For The Summer by Lynne Shelby

Kate Harper has always loved the painting that has hung in her parents' dining room for years, never suspecting that it is worth a fortune. When her art dealer boyfriend cheats her family out of the proceeds of the painting's sale, she is left devastated and alone.

Kate discovers that two hundred years ago, the girl in the painting, Charlotte Browne, ran off to Rome with the artist who painted her portrait, but her eventual fate is unknown.

Hoping to uncover the mystery of what happened to Charlotte, Kate seizes the chance of a summer job in Rome, where she strikes up a friendship with artist Jamie Taylor. As they explore the city and start to piece together the surprising secrets of Charlotte's life, Kate finds herself wondering if a summer in Rome can mend a broken heart...

This is so much more than I anticipated and I loved it!

Kate Harper seizes the opportunity to spend the summer in Rome working at the English House. It’s somewhere to escape to after she parted ways from her boyfriend, Gabe. It’s also a place she hopes to find out more about the woman in a painting she loved… the one which was recently sold by her family. Once settled, she meets the artist in residence, Jamie. Together, they research the painting, which leads them to unexpected discoveries… and love.

The duel timeline is an unexpected but delightful surprise as Kate and Jamie find out about Charlotte Browne, the woman in the painting. As the pair investigate, they become closer, but with neither of them not wanting to be involved in a relationship, friendship is all they share. Therefore, there’s lots of sexual tension bubbling under the surface, as they try to deny their feelings for each other.

I’m always happy to read a slow-burn romance, and this novel is perfectly balanced with the historical aspects and the contemporary setting. The secondary characters add depth to the story both in connection to the painting and as a side plot. Thanks to the skill of the writing, it all comes together, creating a captivating page-turner.

I’ve visited Rome previously and enjoyed revisiting it through the eyes of the author. I’m not a fan of art; however, the narrative offers so much enticing detail. I’d like to revisit the Italian city again, to see it through different eyes.

If you like reading novels set in faraway lands, this is perfect for anyone looking to escape for a few hours, in your favourite cosy spot.

***arc generously received courtesy of Headline Accent via NetGalley***

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Lynne Shelby writes contemporary women's fiction and romance. Her debut novel, French Kissing (re-released in e-book as Meet Me In Paris) won the Accent Press and Woman magazine Writing Competition, and her fifth novel, Love On Location, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists’ Association Award – the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy. When not writing or reading, Lynne can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city with her writer's notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand. She lives in London with her husband and has three adult children who live nearby.