Portobello Book Blog

I’m delighted to be joining the blogtour and sharing my review for The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman today. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to take part in the tour and for my review copy. There’s a chance to win a paperback copy of the book at the end of this post so don’t miss that.

About the book

Dream job. Dream house. Fake fiancé. 

A year in a gorgeous Italian castle…

When Anna Roberts’ life implodes, an online search leads her to an ad for the ultimate dream job – management of a gorgeous castle on the shores of Lake Como, accommodation included. The only catch? Anna can’t do it alone…

…With the last man on earth she’d choose!

The castle owners will only accept a couple as caretakers, which means Anna needs a man on her arm at the interview. Enter her neighbour, Jake Tucker. Though Anna and Jake have never seen eye-to-eye, Jake’s had a rough few years and an escape to Italy sounds ideal. Yet, when they get the job and jet off, Anna and Jake face an unexpected challenge. Pretending to be a couple is difficult … but pretending the tension simmering between them doesn’t exist is quickly proving impossible!

My Thoughts

After Anna’s relationship breaks down in a most humiliating manner, she loses her job and her home too. When a job opportunity to manage an Italian castle on Lake Como presents itself, there’s only one snag – the position is for a couple. She decides to ask her annoying neighbour Jake to pretend to be in a relationship with her. Jake also has good reasons to need this job and agrees, but these two really don’t get on – can they really pull it off? For Anna, it’s a dream job in a dream location but Jake is most definitely not her dream man!

Gradually Anna and Jake move from constantly irritating each other to tentative friends and yes, more than friends. It’s a romance novel, you wouldn’t expect anything less. But watching the ups and downs of that journey is what makes the book so enjoyable.

Jake was a really interesting character. A bit of a rogue in his younger days he had turned his life around becoming a firefighter. But an outburst of temper lost him pretty much everything that mattered to him. It was obvious that he was a good guy despite his sometimes sarcastic and grumpy demeanour.

This may have been a fake relationship but there was nothing fake about the attraction between Jake and Anna. Something neither of them particularly wanted to give into but oh that simmering sexual tension! As ever, Katherine Freeman knows how to create a hot hero and it was no wonder that Anna appreciated what she could see. Mind you, Jake wasn’t immune to Anna’s curves either. However, physical attraction isn’t everything and it was as these two came to know and understand each other that love began to blossom.

The Italian Job is a fabulous sexy romance that could well have you feeling a bit hot under the collar. Kathryn Freeman writes about physical attraction so well. This is a great book about two people finding out that enemies can turn into lovers when they get to know the real person and not the facade. With the fantastic setting of a beautiful castle by beautiful Lake Como, the heat of the sun and the heat of passion, The Italian Job makes for a sizzling summer read.

Purchase Links

Link UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RFF6X5Q

Link US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RFF6X5Q

About the Author

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write a book. It may have had something to do with my obsession with reading romance. Real life interfered and I headed off in a different direction – into the world of science, becoming a pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry. I did end up writing, but it was about disease and medicines. Decades later, I’m finally doing what I always wanted to do.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), all the romance in my life is in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Giveaway to Win a PB copy of The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Click here to enter the giveaway