When finding your roots in Italy means finding something more.

Synopsis

The #1 bestseller is back with an uplifting, escapist read that will brighten the gloomiest day!

A warm, sun-baked terrace.

The rustle of verdant green vines.

The sun slowly dipping behind the Umbrian mountains. And the chink of wine glasses as the first cork of the evening is popped…

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name.

When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known. However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

This summer, join Zia as she sets out to uncover her past. But can she find the future she’s always dreamed of along the way?

My review

Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers has obviously not the easiest name in the world. Her mother never gave the details of why she named her daughter that. The only thing Zia knows is that there is an Italian woman, Lucia, that was very important.
With the excuse of wanting an Italian passport, so that she can move to Italy, she needs to uncover the truth about her Italian family.
After discovering hidden letters, she decides to spend her summer in Italy with the people that apparently knew her mother.
But while she is finding her roots, she cannot ignore Piero, the vineyard owner next door.
Will she find all the answers to her questions? And is there a future in store for her and Piero?

Let a book take me to Italy and I’m hooked. Let a book have a captivating story on so many levels, and I’m sold! And sold I was with this beautiful story writing By Sue Moorcroft!

Zia is a young woman that starts searching for her roots almost by accident. She knows her father is an Italian, but her mother never told her who he was. To make things even sadder, Zia’s mother died when Zia herself was still a child and she was raised by her beloved grandparents. But the secret of her father was truly a well-kept secret.
Yet finding hidden letters, is what made her whole world fall apart. Because not only the name of her father was kept from her, but there is so much more to her history than she could ever imagine.

I admired her courage to just pack and go with her best friend Ursula to Italy, not knowing who she would find and how she would be welcomed.
I understood why she kept quiet in the beginning, because who wouldn’t test the water first? But Lucia and her husband Durante showed Zia and Ursula the true meaning of Italian hospitality!
Zia is looking for a family, but she can truly depend on her friendship with Ursula. No matter what happens, these two friends are there for each other, without any prejudice and help however they can. Even if it means going to Italy for a period!

But the Italian hospitality is not the only thing so recognizable for me, as a true Italian 😄 Of course the macho – behaviour and stubbornness are all having their own appearance in this story, which made me all smile.
When I got to know Zia’s father, my reaction was : TYPICAL ITALIAN!!!

But there are also nice clichés that also were more present in the story. And so enter Piero. He shows us that he is the kind of person that cares about family and friends, and he wants to protect them against everyone who wants to harm his beloved ones.
And he proofs that not all Italians are players, just looking for the next conquest, but that men also long for that long-life commitment with a person they love.

Even if this was a love story, I found it also a beautiful story about finding your roots and finding that missing piece.
Even if Zia hears some truths she finds unbelievable, after the heart – break over the deceit, she gains so much more.
This story shows us that being loved is a wonderful thing. Not only the love between a man and a woman (or whatever combination you prefer ☺️) but also the love between family is a strong bond, no matter how late in your life it comes.