Book Review: A Match Made in Venice by Leonie Mack

About the Book:

Title: A Match Made in Venice

Author: Leonie Mack

Publication Date: Nov. 9, 2021

Synopsis: When pragmatic, sensible and resolutely single Deirdre York (Didi to her friends) is sent to Venice for work she is determined not to be taken in by the romantic clichés. Winter in the floating city may be breathtakingly beautiful, but she’s here with a clear purpose and will not let the magic of Venice distract her.

Piero Zanetti is the epitome of the handsome yet tortured artist. Heart-broken by the end of his love affair with a glamorous opera singer, he has lost his ability to work, and his inspiration has drained away, along with his zest for life.

But Didi needs Piero working – she has been tasked with commissioning him to do a glass centrepiece for a luxury department store Christmas display – some how Didi has to cheer Piero up or at least find him a new muse…

As Didi and Piero slowly become friends, and as Venice starts to melt Didi’s heart and gently nudge Piero out of the blues, something special begins to happen. Can Venice – the City of Love – work a Christmas miracle and help Didi and Piero to find their happiness at last…

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

My Review:

A Match Made in Venice is a charming contemporary romance! When Didi travels to Venice to commission artist Piero Zanetti to create something for her work, Piero shows no interest. A moody and brooding man who has lost his muse, Pietro balks at the idea of selling out for consumerism, but he can’t deny that Didi makes him feel again. She inspires him, and Piero convinces Didi to return with him to Venice with the promise that he’ll think about commissioning a piece. As the pair explores Venice and their feelings, they both risk losing their hearts. Can they be convinced it’s worth the risk?

I love Didi and Piero’s story and their friends-to-lovers romance. They are both such unique and well-developed characters, and they grow so much throughout the story. Both characters fear falling in love for different reasons, but their attraction slowly builds until they can’t deny their feelings. I like how this couple grows closer and learns about each other as they explore Venice. The couple actually starts off as reluctant friends, and they realize that they have a lot of fun together. They enjoy each other’s company, and they really seem to understand each other, sometimes better than they know themselves. From this friendship blooms a deep respect and love for each other, though both are slow to admit it.

Piero and Didi both have complicated relationships with their family, which has definitely affected their feelings toward love. Past hurts and fear of vulnerability, as well as the fear of abandonment, add to their conflicted emotions. I like that the story explores all facets of their lives – from their relationships with family to their ties to their community to their feelings about their careers, the story shows how all the pieces of one’s life affect one’s decision-making, relationships, and future. Plus, their chemistry is fantastic. They have so many wonderful moments, some light and fun, others more serious and deep, but all are memorable.

The Venetian setting is vivid and romantic, and I love that you get to learn about pieces of Venice that tourists wouldn’t ordinarily experience. I’ve never been to Italy, but this story reaffirmed my desire to visit at least once in my life. The glass blowing is also so fascinating, and I could see how one would lose track of time watching the masters create their art. It all made for a very romantic backdrop to Piero and Didi’s story, and I enjoyed learning more about the glass blowing process and the beautiful pieces Piero created.

I thought this was a romantic and heart-warming read, and I highly recommend it to readers of contemporary romance. The characters are wonderful and well-layered, and I loved the romantic setting! Powerful messages of embracing love, finding happiness, and following your heart and your dreams add to the optimistic charm of the story. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Leonie Mack for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romance.

The setting.

The glass blowing.

Recommendations:

This is a great read for people who like contemporary romance, romantic fiction, or rom-coms.

About the Author:

Leonie Mack is an author of romantic comedies with great international locations. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!

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