Title: An American In Venice
Series: World of Love 15: Italy
Author: Luca Domani
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (52 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63533-344-2
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (19th July 2017)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: Tom has always been steady and predictable—a formula he’s sure will lead him to success in his career. When his method fails him and he loses his job, he throws caution to the wind for the first time in his life and books a European holiday.
Maybe Tom shouldn’t be surprised that Cupid’s arrow finds him in one of the most romantic cities in the world: Venice, Italy. When he encounters Giovanni working in the family pizzeria, it’s lust at first sight. Their time together touring the city is so magical it feels like a dream. But Tom is shy while Giovanni is charming and flirtatious. Tom has a newfound freedom with his unemployment, while family burdens weigh heavily on Giovanni. Add culture differences and miscommunication into the mix, and their brief romance might fade as quickly as the beautiful dream it resembles.
Purchase Link: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Review: I’ve been holding off writing this review because I’m really not sure what to say. Luca Domani is a new author to me and for the most part I did enjoy the experience. The story was sweet, and the romance was on point. However, I can’t say that I was entirely grabbed by the story, which is what has left me confused. Perhaps its because me being a very practical person isn’t happy with a happily ever after without being told the nitty gritty details?
Because of this, this is going to be quite a short review. I have nothing that I want to specifically praise or complain about. The MCs are wonderful and relatable, although due to length we don’t really get to go deep into their psyches. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two men as well, that too was relatable. There was no specific reason for me to suspend my disbelief, although the subject of visas and working visas, etc. did come to mind because practical me has to over think everything, even in a romantic fiction. All I can say for sure is that this is a sweet romance is one of the romantic cities in the world. It is something that could be the subject of any number of romantic comedies and dramas.
The story starts with Tom, the titular American. He has always done the right thing, he had been studious with his studies and has been steadfast and reliable to build a successful career. However, when he loses his job, he comes to the stunning realisation (at least for him and his situation) that his career success and failure isn’t just down to him doing his best and doing his job properly. And so he does something that he never did before, he decides it is time for him the seize the day and goes on a European holiday, knowing that he had to return home to get his life back on track after he has his fun.
While in Venice he meets Giovanni. He’s a local and works in his family’s restaurant. The two of them have instant chemistry and quickly find a physical connection that is set to become a lot more with little effort. The challenge for these guys is that Tom is from America and Giovanni from Italy. Distance relationships are difficult. But before they can think about that part, there are also culture differences and even some miscommunication. Miscommunication storylines sometimes, well often, annoy me, but I will admit with the cultural and language differences it works well in this novella.