Loved this book. I have read a few of Carol's books and they are so well written. You get a feel for the area she is writing about and grow to love the characters. The story was lovely. I can't wait to read the next book Carol writes

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood's third novel is set on the romantic Amalfi coast in Italy.

Carina is soon to marry Giorgio Bianchi. Concerned for his daughter's safety, Salvatore Russo hires an Englishman, Tom Ryan, to chaperone her until the wedding.

Giorgio is ambitious and thinks nothing of cheating on his bride-to-be. The women he is attracted to are beautiful but shallow and manipulative. Giorgio's behaviour hasn't gone unnoticed by Carina's bridesmaid, Edie Stone, who is holding onto a huge secret.

Salvatore's wife, Philippa, feels that her husband is becoming distant and the last thing she needs is for her first love, Harry Fanshawe, to turn up out of the blue.

As the wedding draws nearer, the threat to Carina becomes all too real as Edie's secret finally unravels, causing events to take a much more dramatic turn.

I enjoyed this story, particularly the location. Not all the characters are fully developed, but you definitely get a sense of the tension as events progress.

This book would make an ideal holiday read.

I received a free digital ARC of this book via HarperCollins UK and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Great book in a perfect setting. Always enjoy reading Carol's books. Always lots of family drama and long lost secrets.

Carol has done a great job with this book, I really enjoyed it, I have the hardback copy too, to go with my other two books. The characters are great, there is a good amount of drama and a great amount of fun to be found in the pages.

I had read this authors previous two books and really enjoyed them. This was something else, it was better than the first 2 !

It begins with a prologue, set during WWII in Italy, 2 soldiers who are friends encounter a bunch of other soldiers. A shot is fired. The book is divided into 3 parts - part 1 Carina (her mother is English) is due to marry her childhood sweetheart Giorigo. Carina now has her doubts. Part 2 is mainly about Carinas mother, her past and how she came to be in Italy. Part 3 the Wedding celebrations begin.

Another great read and recommend

Another wonderful book. A brilliant storyline that I really enjoyed and was easily hooked from the first chapter. The characters were very engaging and loved the back storyline too. This is the third book by Carol and the writing is still very refreshing and engaging

This is Carol's third book and I think her best so far. The continual references to designer labels have gone which means the reader is able to concentrate on the story. On this occasion, a wedding is imminent. Carina Di Russo and Georgio Bianchi's marriage will unite two famous family wine producers. However, when Carina is involved in a near miss with a car, her father Salvatore hires ex-soldier Tom Ryan to keep his daughter safe.
It's clear that Georgio is far from being the committed husband to be. Not only is he involved in a secret relationship with an American model in LA, he has plans to use her famous reality TV uncle in a business deal of his own. Add a jealous ex-Italian lover (Isabella) and you have all the ingredients to keep you turning the pages. Georgio thinks he's devious and clever, but life is about to catch up with him big time in a way he least expects it to.
A great holiday/beach read...

A great easy read. Great descriptions of Italy.
Love, friendship, deceit and secrets flow through the pages.

Rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on my blog - Bookmarks and Stages

Carol Kirkwood "sent" readers to a Greek Island then to The English Riviera and this time around, let's join in the ride to the glitz and glam of the Villa Amore on the Amalfi Coast. Feel the heat radiating from the sun in azure skies and the rich atmosphere as you turn the pages and meet childhood sweethearts, Carina and Giorgio. It all sounds sweet and so perfect, except it isn't. It's full of drama as key people want to be elsewhere and secrets start to emerge and it all becomes rather messy and with it with scandal. Kirkwood knows how to twist things and knows people can't resist a scandal, so that's what she presents in this book, along with enough charm to ensure you're already hooked and then reels you in even more because of course you just have to find out what happens next, with the amount of intrigue created to see what other secrets and lies there are to emerge. It seems everyone has something to hide or thought not to come back into being in their lives. Suddenly, not all seems so perfect after all in the world of "how the other half live." There is also, at the heart of this, as well as secrets of course, is friendship and well-drawn characters and the setting is almost a character itself in a way, not overly descriptive, but enough to pull you there and keep you on the Amalfi Coast until what is a satisfying ending.

Just a great book. Tead it in one sitting
Perfect book to curl up with and to get lost in
Will have you hooked from the first page
Thanks NetGalley

The Secrets of Villa Amore is the third novel by Carol Kirkwood.
In short, it’s the story of two Italian neighbouring estate families and an imminent wedding which will join their families together, however, there is a deep rooted secret from the past to be revealed!
I’ve read and enjoyed every book by Carol, her novels are easy reading escapism all set in a glorious sunny countries which set the setting for the perfect holiday read. Always well written and glossy…a real page turner sizzling with secrets and passion.
Big thanks to Carol Kirkwood, HarperCollins and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

A book about family dramas, long held secrets, unexpected love and romance., a near miss with death, lies and deception. All set to the backdrop of the Mediterranean sea.

I'm a Carol Kirkwood fan and devoured her first two offerings. Secrets of the Villa Amore doesn't disappoint either. Tightly written, fabulous yet empathetic characters with two narratives perfectly pitched against one another all interacting against a dazzlingly fabulous backdrop. Can't praise Carol's feel-good writing high enough.

A wonderful beach read. Easy to read and a good one for the holidays. Made you want to be on the Amalfi coast and cruising around too.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I have read a couple of Carol's books before and I really enjoyed this one. There were bits that I found a bit disappointing but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.

The book is set around Carina's wedding to Giogio, her childhood sweetheart. Carina knows in her heart that something is not right but feels that the two families are expecting this union to bring their vineyards together.

The wedding will take place in Villa Amore, where family and friends will gather but there are so many secrets that will blow up around this union. Why has Carina's dad hired a bodyguard for her and how will she feel with Tom following her everywhere ? What secrets are Salvador keeping from his wife and Carina, and will their marriage crumble when she leaves. What has the groom been up to and why has he gone to America a week before the wedding?

So many questions and the answers unfold slowly and past hurts and secrets come out.

The book is set in beautiful Italy and it makes you want to visit there. I think the "villans" in this piece didn't get their comeuppance and I think that was the only mistake.

I would recommend this book as it is beautiful, I hope there will be a sequel about Carina

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

I am always dubious of celebrity authors but there is no need to worry with Carol Kirkwood. This was an absolutely brilliant book, well written and a great story. A great escape to the sunshine thoroughly recommend this book, make sure it is on your wish list.

When a near miss prompts Carina's father to employ a bodyguard in the run up to her nuptials nobody knows the secrets that will be uncovered. Carina's husband to be turns out not to be the person everyone thought, but then so does another member of the Russo family.

If you like a family drama, long-held secrets and unexpected romance set against the back drop of the Mediterranean sea then you will love this new novel from Carol Kirkwood.

Another romantic and transporting book.

Carol Kirkwood is quickly establishing herself as one to watch when it comes to romantic fiction set in beautiful European locations. She conjures a vision of the place so well, and the characters are so convincing, that you feel as though you’re there with them - looking across the sea, and sipping delicious wine at sunset.

Combining a bit of scandal and drama with romance and glamour this is a brilliant summer read that is perfect for a sunlounger - where ever that may be!

Having read Carol Kirkwood’s previous books this was up there with the storyline. Set in Italy’s Amalfi coastline. A great holiday read.