I loved this authors previous book and felt the same about this. A very nicely written story with great characters and character development. Easy to read, set in a stunning location. Recommend

Having read Carol's first two books, which I enjoyed, I knew I was not going to be disappointed! A change from Greece and this one is set on the Italian Amalfi Coast. Fabulous location to visit, if you haven't been!!

The characters were great, I literally read in 3 sittings, as I couldn't leave the story for long.

Where will your next novel be based Carol? Wherever it is, I'll be reading it!

These are lovely books for you to immerse yourself in and soak up the sun!

A really well written book set in Italy. The descriptions of the Italian coast made me feel like I was there. Great characters and a really well written story. Recommended.

Another bestseller from Carol Kirkwood, a beautiful location for a wedding and all the trials and tribulations that happen along the way. The perfect holiday read, devoured it in an afternoon!

A perfect summer holiday read to escape with. Set on the stunning Amalfi coast with a glamorous wedding between two wealthy wine making families all set but things certainly don't go to plan. Lots of intrigue with many twists and turns plus secrets and double dealings plus romance.

For those who appreciate romance in an exquisite location, this is the perfect book to read.

This proved to be the perfect summer read set in glorious Italy and highly entertaining. Despite occasional predictability in the plot, the storyline remains enjoyable. Featuring relatable and amiable characters, I perused this book while unwinding on the beach. Having read previous works of Kirkwood, I am persuaded that with each book she authors, her storylines are refined and her writing style is increasingly engaging.

I would highly recommend this well-written, intriguing and enjoyable read to fans of this genre.

Glitz, glamour, romance and betrayal. Throw in family problems and history and the beautiful settings of the Amalfi coast and LA and you have the perfect ingredients for an excellent summer read. Highly recommended.

Set in Italy,, Carina is due to marry her sweetheart Giorgio, he disappears off to the US on a business deal just days before the wedding... he has mnpany secrets and a they unfold the depth of his lies, and business deals come to the fore, leaving Carina exposed.

An easy read, but the book does lack some substance... and seems to take too long to reach its conclusion.

A absolutely fantastic read
Carol Kirkwood does it again, she writes in a way that really gets you involved in the storyline.
The characters are strong the storyline was intriguing and the setting seems almost perfect.

a really enjoyable story not what i was expecting at all, reminded me of a jackie collins novel and how surprised was i when she made an appearance in the book!
first time i have a read a book by this author but wont be the last.
a great summer read

This is a great story set on the wonderful Amalfi coast. The description of which made me want to book a holiday there! Loved it.

Another great book by Carol Kirkwood, it is a wonderful Summer read, you are transported to the beautiful Amalfi coast which is what we all need at the moment with the monotonous rain we have. The characters are interesting and Giorgio is definitely someone you would want to stay away from. Highly recommend, possibly her best book yet.

I was looking forward to a light, romantic read. This book gave me more than that. I enjoyed the elements of intrigue within the families. The characters were well 'fleshed out' and the plot well developed.

2.7 Stars (minority opinion)
One Liner: An easy read

Carina is marrying her childhood sweetheart, Giorgio, who has secrets of his own and isn’t who he appears to be. Edie is Carina’s friend and bridesmaid. This emerging Hwood actress has secrets she cannot reveal. Phillipa, Carina’s mother, has a happy life but finds things drifting apart. Complications arise when her former lover enters the scene.
Tom arrives at the location, hired as Carina’s temporary bodyguard. With strange gifts and odd threats, it’s clear something sinister is happing behind the scenes. But what?
Set on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, the book deals with how the lives of multiple people change over a few days.
The story comes in the third-person POV of several characters.

What I Like:
I mainly requested the book for the setting, and it does full justice to this. Be it Villa Amore, the Amalfi Coast, vineyards, or the Sicilian background, everything comes alive on the page. However, it’s not overly descriptive for the reader to lose interest.
The pace is amazing. This book has almost 400 pages (384-400), but it is easy to read in a couple of sitting. Even with so much happening, I could breeze through the content without any difficulty.
The writing style is easy, almost too easy, and highly simplified. While this adds to the pace, it doesn’t evoke enough emotions to connect with the characters. Still, I wanted Giorgio to get his due for being an absolute douchebag, so one character did inspire strong emotions in me.
A certain small yet highly influential character says, ‘No man is worth losing your self-respect…’ Indeed! (I’d make it gender-neutral, but it fits the context)
The parallels between Phillipa and Carina’s lives are interesting. Though it doesn’t do justice to their ‘intelligence’, it offers a little something to ponder about in a mother-daughter relationship. (Not sure if this was intended, but anyhoo).

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
Well, a family drama thrives on drama and interesting characters. You gotta have secret keepers, victims, collateral damage, heroes, villains, grey characters, et al. While the book has them all, none of them except that scum Giorgio makes an impact (at least for me).
The multiple third-person POV works to an extent in providing their thoughts, but the voice shifts repeatedly from one person to another. At the same time, it’s not omnipresent narration either. This makes it hard to connect with the characters.
The dialogue is nice, but I didn’t like it. The conversations sound off in many places. It’s like the characters are acting their part in a play rather than being themselves on paper.
The actual story is set in 2005. While books set in the past only recreate a similar setting, this one feels like it was written at the same time but dusted and edited for publishing in 2023. Not sure I can explain it right, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the book is an old manuscript.
I was hoping Giorgio would face the music for his actions. While he does to a minor extent, the book sadly sweeps a good portion of it under the carpet. Financial fraud is one thing, infidelity and mistreating women is another matter. He isn’t even questioned about it. That is NOT acceptable.
The main and side characters could have been much better but end up as cardboard cutouts. Also, a major development made me roll my eyes at the FMC. This could have been achieved in better ways.

To summarize, Secrets of the Villa Amore is an easy and light read despite the complex plot. It’s nothing great or memorable, though. A time pass read.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK (Fiction), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A fantastic summer read. Some parts comfortably predictable and others with a twist. You can feel the sun on your skin, hear the nightime nature sounds and quickly get invested in the lives of the character. You will not want to put it down.

This is Carol’s third book….and it didn’t disappoint. All three I have haven’t been able to put down. I love the descriptions of all the sun drenched locations and you really feel you’re there. Carol Kirkwood is certainly becoming one of my favourite authors.

It starts with a wartime murder and then a marriage of two winemaker families.
Carina is marrying her childhood sweetheart, Giorgio, but he isn’t the person she think he is.
Hollywood starlet Edie is the dazzling bridesmaid, but she is hiding something that could destroy her best friend.
Mother of the bride, Philippa is stunned by the arrival of a former lover, who could destroy her marriage.
Sun, sea and scandal on the Amalfi Coast.
There’s plenty of glamour and drama.
It’s very well written and the setting was magical.
A lovely summer read
Thanks @carolkirkwood, @harperfiction & @netgalley for the eARC

I've enjoyed books by this author previously and this one did not disappoint. A gorgeous setting, likeable characters and enough intrigue to keep interest. A great read for the summer!

A perfect holiday read. Great characters, a wonderful setting and a page turning plot. I have enjoyed all of this authors books and can’t wait for her to write more.

Congratulations Carol you have done it again.
In my opinion your best book yet.
Absolutely brilliant read and a great summer read to escape this awful weather..
Easy to read and grabs you from the very first page