💍 🔔 💒 Bound by a Ring and a Secret (Wedding Bells at Lake Como #1) (2021) 💒 🔔 💍 - Book Tour & Review
A mistaken identity
a proposal that changes everything!
About the Author
Thank you in advance to the author, Jennifer Faye, for providing a complimentary review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required or requested. All words are my own.
Last year I became acquainted with the “pink” or rather ROMANCE line of Harlequin through author Jennifer Faye. That was The Bartolini Legacy. I LOVED those books and traipsing through Italy with the Bartolini siblings.
I was also lucky enough to read her Fairytale Christmas with the Millionaire.
As soon as I saw this book, I couldn’t resist reading it. Just as a note –> it is the first book of a two-book set (the back page as this listed as part one of a duet). The cover is just absolutely adorable with that sweet dog! OMG so beautiful!
This is a terrific little beach read, even if I didn’t read it at the beach. The short chapters and easy flow kept this at a steady pace and didn’t lag. I didn’t even know I was finished until I closed the book.
While the fake romances can be cringe-worthy, there was some sweetness in this quirky, yet adorable read that I couldn’t put down for any length of time.
The two main characters – Dario and Gianna were adorable, after the awkward meeting. Franco tried my patient and I wasn’t sure what to make of Carla. One of the best “supporting” characters was … yes, Tito the dog! How handsome and sweet was he?
If Dario had rented the house (and asked for extra time) – why the confusion? Gianna is home after her “almost” fiancé, Naldo, returns to his ex-girlfriend. What a burn and what a bum! She’s also quit her job.
Gianna first meets a cute dog and he seemingly follows her back to her place. She isn’t there long before learning that someone else has been staying there – Dario Marchello. She learns that Tito (the dog) belongs to Dario. And, although he was only there for a month, it turned out that Dario wanted an extra month. He called, gotten the extra month. Gianna got the call, but reception was spotty, which leads to confusion.
I will admit that Dario had to win me over a bit due to his attitude about the house. After all, it was Gianna’s and after offering him a refund, he still insisted on staying? He didn’t want to share it, but he really can’t ask her to leave.
The two come to a compromise – he stays in the smaller guesthouse and Gianna has her home to herself, well, except for when Tito visits.
Dario is grateful as he hopes it will help him in finishing his book. He is intrigued by Gianna and her story. But, it is clear he is attracted to her.
It isn’t long until her cousin visits and his brother comes calling. And, as stated – Dario and Gianna are Bound by a Ring and a Secret. They are presumed engaged, and Dario decides to go with it.
He feels it would explain his presence at Gianna’s villa. He knows it is wrong, but he wants to be able to finish his follow up for his best-seller first book. It is only for a month though. And, Faye also seems to set up book #2 for Carla and Franco with this scene … well, so it seems.
Dario relishes the relationship idea and Gianna seems to, though they do play it real at times – they, or rather Gianna, knows the boundaries. And, after being with Dario, Gianna realizes she was unhappy with Naldo and made excuses for it.
As Dario is stuck, Gianna offers to read the book for him, and he agrees. While she loves it, there are some things it needs. Dario doesn’t want the suggestions though.
But, their ruse begins to blossom as more people find out.
Dario and Gianna suffer a slight setback which doesn’t last. But, it isn’t because he is upset with her – he’s suddenly got the spark he needs for his revisions and he finishes early, with much thanks to Gianna.
In appreciation and to further the ruse, Dario gets Gianna a ring, which she refuses. She later accepts it as a “thank you” gift.
And, she begins to feel everything is right with Dario, even after they’re invited to his grandparents’ anniversary party. Everyone around them can see the attraction, except Gianna is oblivious. His grandfather doesn’t think too much of Gianna though. But, Dario is beginning to wonder if he shouldn’t shift the fake romance into a real one.
It is at his grandparents’ party that everything comes together and falls apart as well. Dario finally makes some revelations – good and accidental (bad) which causes some tension towards the end of the book. And, the reader learns about an issue between the Marchello family and Carla’s family (or rather her father). I can’t wait to explore that in the second book.
This is definitely a clean read romance, there is an “off-page scene” that is alluded to. And, as is normal for her writing in this line, Faye is very discrete about the scenes. She conveys the simple message while not going into details. There is also NO foul language at all. While the romance line isn’t steamy or tawdry, this particular book was one of the cleanest ones I’ve read. Not that I didn’t enjoy the other books she has written, this one was definitely much better.
On a personal note, one thing that was very close to home for me was a quote on page 173 when Dario was congratulating Gianna on an achievement. It was something my mom always told me growing up, and even now as an adult – “I always believed you can do whatever you set your mind to”. Those were, have been, and are currently the EXACT words my mom uses to encourage me and praise me. I found it very interesting. Oh, and like Gianna, my favorite color is purple too.
Dario is correct about writing – you cannot give it up. It becomes part of who you are – whether you’re published or not. And, that resonated with me so much because I have always believed it.
Unlike the The Bartolini Legacy, this story was wrapped up by the end of the book which I definitely appreciated.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, beautiful, charming, and at times inspiring little read. Faye has a real best-seller here in time for the summer!
While I have other older Harlequin books and some discontinued series, I didn’t have any ROMANCE ones. And, Faye’s books are the only books of the line that I own.
Fans of the author’s romance line, and those
who enjoyed the The Bartolini Legacy, are sure to enjoy this
book! I definitely enjoy seeing her romance titles and she is one of my “go-to”
authors of the line. Her vivid descriptions make me feel like a tourist in
Italy any time of the year.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating
explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
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