It Takes a Villa

Kilby Blades

May 2022 · Sold by Entangled: Amara

About this ebook

For the reasonable price of $1, Natalie Malone just bought herself an abandoned villa on the Amalfi Coast. With a detailed spreadsheet and an ancient key, she’s arrived in Italy ready to renovate—with only six months to do it. Which seemed reasonable, until architect Pietro Indelicato begins critically watching her every move...

From the sweeping ocean views to the scent of the lemon trees, there’s nothing Pietro loves more than his hometown. And after seeing too many botched jobs and garish design choices, he’s done watching from the sidelines. As far as he’s concerned, Natalie should quit before the project drains her entire bank account and her ridiculously sunny optimism.

With Natalie determined to move forward, the gorgeous architect reluctantly agrees to pitch in, giving her a real chance to succeed. But when the fine print on Natalie’s contract is brought to light, she might have no choice but to leave her dream—and Pietro—behind.

Ratings and reviews

It Takes a Villa has a great setting, and Kilby Blades knows her stuff when it comes to painting a picture with her words. It was easy to see it all in my mind's eye as I listened, and I liked the premise and the storyline. The romance is a slow burn, which works for this couple, Natalie and Pietro have good chemistry, and the romance does get steamy. Between the renovations, the romance, the setting, and even a little mystery, it's easy to get invested in the characters and their lives.

This book was kind of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand I thought it was kind of cute and funny and on the other it left me annoyed. There was a ton of potential here and I really liked the characters and the setting. The burn is slow, and the romance is sweet. This is my elective, objective review.

This was an entertaining and relatable read with generous sprinkles of humor, a slowly developing new romance, gasp-worthy sensuality, observant insights, family drama, DIY renovations, gorgeous Italian sightseeing, and an interesting mystery. The writing had a smooth and easy-to-follow flow with taunting tidbits that teased my curiosity and kept me reading when the clock argued otherwise. The angst and contrived conflict levels were low, which is exactly how I like it.

About the author

Kilby Blades is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her debut novel, Snapdragon, was a HOLT Medallion finalist and a Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize semifinalist. She has been lauded by critics for “writing characters who complement each other like a fine wine does a good meal” (PW). When she’s not writing, Kilby goes to movie matinees alone, where she eats Chocolate Pocky and buttered popcorn and usually smuggles in not a little bit of red wine.

kilbyblades.com