Sizzling PR Presents: Ten Days in Tuscany by Annie Seaton; #Spotlightt & #Review

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for review from Sizzling PR and from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Title:  Ten Days in Tuscany

Men of the Zodiac novel

Author:  Annie Seaton

Rating:  4 1/2 Stars

Sign: Cancer

One lie will ruin everything…

Gia Carelli waits tables in her small Tuscan village, dreaming of a life in which her overbearing family allows her to move to Florence to pursue art. Everyone expects her to marry a nice local boy and raise a horde of bambini, but when a gorgeous, wealthy stranger visits, Gia wonders if maybe her stars are about to change.

Nic Baldini has returned to his Tuscan Villa for a much-needed break from the responsibilities of his powerful family. Struck by local artist Gia Carelli’s raw talent and passion, he finds himself wanting to help her…and lies about his identity in order to gain her trust. But as theirpatron-protegée relationship is quickly eclipsed by desire, Nic realizes that one tiny lie could cost him the woman he’s falling for.

Buy Links: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * iTunes

About the Author: Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the South Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia and she is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing. She has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. Annie lives with her own hero of many years. Their two children are now grown up and married, and two beautiful grandchildren have arrived. Now they share their home with "Bob" the dog and two white cats. When she is not writing she can be found in her garden or walking on the beach... or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of wine in hand as the sun sets.

Connect with her here: 

  @annieseaton26  Facebook  Website  Good Reads

My Thoughts:

Nic Baldini has a thing for helping others.  Gia Carelli works in the family business but her interests lie elsewhere.  At this point, I can picture her as a young Italian Audrey Hepburn.  As I got further into the story I had to laugh because I wrote the previous sentence before ever reaching the scene where our great minds think alike.  Our main characters both love the same thing and this commonality is what begins their relationship.

One thing I love about this author is that she takes me to places I’ll never see in my lifetime.  She also reminds her readers not to be afraid to follow your dreams – it takes great strength to go against what others expect of you.  Are you willing?  Sometimes we have to decide what’s more important.  The reader also sees the pain of disappointment.

Gia and Nic’s story is a great book to take on vacation.  Maybe go visit a library that has an art museum.  Sit and enjoy some beautiful art work and then read this story.  Maybe “House Hunters International” may be an inspiration – pick up and move to a place where you’ve loved to visit and now want to make your permanent residence.

Ms. Seaton also lets her readers know that sometimes our dreams need a little helping hand.  And this helps the story build from start to finish.  There’s no rush for our couple to have sex, which makes the story more believable.  You will get your sex but like everything else about this story, nothing is rushed and comes at the perfect time – it’s icing on the cake.  My only disappointment was that there were no illustrations but that’s why going to look at some of the Masters just becomes a little more important.

It’s my hope that if an audio edition of this book is ever made that a narrator with an accent tells this great story – it will add to the experience and the reader would feel as if they are getting some of the Tuscan experience.  And if Cancer is this hot, you’ll want to check out the rest of the Zodiac men.  You may also want to check out some other of this author’s work.

Excerpt:
“Hmm. Let me see. Can I find a spot that needs attention?” Nic’s voice was low, and he was so close to her it vibrated through her skin. Gia looked down at his chest and her eyes lingered on the beautiful script that was embedded into his skin.

Coraggio.

“So that is the tattoo. Courage, Nic?” She grinned up at him as she placed both of her hands on the word that was inked on his skin. “I have no doubt you have plenty of that.”

Slowly he lowered the brush, and for a moment, Gia thought she’d escaped retaliation for daubing his cheek with paint.

“Maybe you need a little courage. Do you think, bella?”

He grabbed both of her hands with one of his and held the brush high with the other. Her breath caught as Nic used his body to gently push her back against the wall. She watched fascinated as he lowered his head and caught the thin straps of her singlet top in his teeth, and the stubble of his chin brushed her shoulder as he slid the strap down with his teeth. A shaft of pure desire ran from her shoulder and honed straight between her legs. If Nic hadn’t been supporting her with his body, Gia would have slid down the wall into a useless heap; her legs were trembling with anticipation.

She swallowed and lowered her voice. “Courage for what?”

Nic lifted his head and held her gaze. “Coraggio. To have faith in yourself and your exhibition.” His eyes were half-closed, but Gia watched with fascination as he leaned back and lowered the brush. The first strokes on the top of her breast were feather soft, and she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. A half swirl for the C and her fingers tingled with the need to touch Nic, but he still held her hands firmly in his. His brow was creased with concentration as his eyes remained firmly fixed on her breasts as the brush tickled her. The circle for the O was painstakingly slow, and she was sure he was deliberately taking his time to complete each letter. The R was completed just as slowly, and Gia closed her eyes when Nic began the next letter. The paint was cool on her skin, and the sensation of the tip of the fine brush was sending quivers to her belly.

“Hmmm. We have a problem.”