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I loved this �� loved Ursula, Alfio, grumpy Fabio and even Ursula’s mam (who, if truth be told, brought a lot of what happened upon herself but finally seemed willing to take some responsibility for that �� ooh, I’ve digressed!)

So, back to the story �� aside from two very lovely and typical families (one in Ireland, the other in Sicily) there was little that might have connected them until Ursula’s uncle “thought�� he was helping by getting his niece somewhere to stay and work while she put her life back together again after a tough time. Bless him, but then again, he wasn’t wrong �� as you’ll find out when you get pulled into this story as I was.

Beautiful Sicily, characters you’ll want to root for (apart from Stephan) and a charming blend of artisanship, family loyalties and what it means to be part of something that is bigger than yourself.

Thwarted romance, lost opportunities, old grievances and a chance to start afresh are what this story brings to the reader, proof if ever it were needed that there is something to be said for taking that leap of faith, trusting in yourself and sometimes letting your heart rule your head. I enjoyed how the author kept hurling obstacles at her characters, she didn’t make their choices easy, but she did make them believable �� and compelling reading to boot. And if you’d never wanted to visit Sicily before, you will after reading this, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to read more from this author too.