Reading about other times, culture, happenstance, is generally interesting to me. The mother certainly rules the roost and it is a shame she seems to be so prominent. Fortunately the young woman is given the opportunity to develop and come into her own. This book seems a little flat and predictable. Some further character development would go a long way. There is more the author could do with the plot. ( )

While not what I would call a romance, this book is evidently the first book in a romance series. It tells the story of a girl who is sent by her mother to a luxurious clinic in Italy to recover from a mysterious ailment. While I thought some of the characters were a little over the top, it was interesting to read about the setting and see the way in which the girl grows up. ( )

The characters are dull and formulaic. Everything seems like a caricature of real people and interactions. I wanted to like this book, but it was incredible hard to get into any kind of cadence with it, as the style seemed to constantly shift and change, and the characters weren't engaging at all. The story feels stale and forced. ( )

Maggie McLaurin is a wealthy young woman who is taken to a "clinic" in Italy by her mother after suffering a devastating breakup of a relationship. This is the story of her time at the clinic, the people she meets, and her plan to get away from her mother's control.

Interestingly, as I look back, I find the setting of the book to be the most interesting. I love Italy and really found myself wanting to return to Lake Como and Venice after reading this book. [The book is set in a northern Italian location that reminded me of Lake Como, and the main characters take a trip to Venice.]

The plot line was OK, but not exceptional. I kept waiting for some other twists (such as the somewhat lecherous clinic owner continually pursuing Maggie or a further relationship between Maggie and some of the men she meets). I was also certain that Maggie would discover that her mother had paid off her boyfriend to set up the scene where Maggie discovers him with another woman. But that never materialized. But, most of the encounters, other than with the other main female character, seem fleeting and somewhat meaningless. I was also not thrilled with the inclusion of the older "mentor" figure who is obsessed with sexual deviancy. The author could have left him out.

As others have mentioned, I wasn't aware this was going to end so abruptly with not much of a resolution. While I'm sure this was meant to draw all of us to the next book. I have to admit I read the preview chapter, hoping to see what became of Maggie. But, after reading the preview, we seem not to know what happened at all during the rest of her college years (maybe there will be flashbacks in the next book). But, I seriously doubt I will read the next installment.

It was an interesting book, but not exceptional.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This romance novel has more dimension than many romance novels. A first love that implodes with repercussions that result in the need for therapy. The young woman is dominated by an overbearing mother, but begins the process of becoming her own person.
A quick read that held my interest beginning to end. ( )