One Summer in Rome by Samantha Tonge

One Summer in Rome

by Samantha Tonge

‘A taste of Italy and a summer read you won’t forget!’ Mandy Baggot

To Rome…with love?

Mary Smith is turning her very ordinary life upside-down! She’s bought herself a one-way ticket to Rome and is ready for a summer she’ll never forget.

Men might be off the cards for waitress Mary, but within hours of arriving at the utterly charming family-run La Dolce Vita pizzeria, she’s already fallen in love with the bustling capital!

Only Dante Rossi, the mysterious (and drop-dead gorgeous) chef seems displeased with her arrival. And in the heat of the kitchen, it doesn’t take long for long-buried secrets to surface and sparks to fly…

A deliciously heartwarming romance to have you dreaming of summer. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Caroline Roberts.

Praise for One Summer in Rome:

‘Food, family and a Roman romance – this is the perfect summer read!’ Heidi Swain

‘A book you won’t regret picking up if you love Jenny Colgan or Cathy Bramley’s books!’ Being Unique Books

‘A perfectly uplifting story to enjoy in the sunshine!’ Fraser’s Fun House

‘A charming novel!’ The Library Corner

‘I couldn’t put this book down… A truly beautiful read.’ Nemesis Book Blog

‘Light-hearted and feel-good.’ Pretty Little Book Reviews

‘A lovely and summery read!’ The Cosiest Corner

Reviewed by Emma (SCR) on

4 of 5 stars

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This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Rachel for letting me be part of this tour and HQ Digital for my copy of this book via Negalley. I have read a few of Samantha's books in the past and I really enjoy her style.

For the first few pages I wasn't a fan of Mary. I felt like she needed to believe in her self a little more. I found her a little bit pathetic. But after a few chapters Mary really came into her own. As we hear more about Mary's past her actions and lack of self worth become more understandable. 

Dante is rather grumpy when we first meet him. His life has been tough over the last couple of years and his heart has taken quite the beating. Dante is however determined to live as normal life as possible and will not stand for being patronised. 

There were a lot of things in this book that were easy to predict or work out but I just loved the journey Samantha took us on to get there.  I could see the romance blossoming from the very first meeting and really enjoyed watching it grow and grow. 

I really liked the Rossi family. They were so welcoming to Mary and despite all their issues they still found a reason to smile. Lucia is the cutest little kid and Natale works so hard to be a good mum to her and help her father in the restaurant. I also loved Rocco. He was cold at first but as you began to break down his walls you realise he is a pretty decent guy.

This book is perfect for this sunny weather we have been having recently. I read most of this book while at the park under the rays and I could have easily been in the Vatican Gardens with Samantha's vivid descriptions of Rome. So grab an ice cream and settle down under the sun with your copy of this book now! 

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 May, 2018: Finished reading
  • 8 May, 2018: Reviewed