One Week in Venice with the CEO by Kate Hardy: Serafina Ardizzone is now in charge of the family’s palazzo after her 
father’s death. Her mother is still alive, but certainly not up to dealing with all the issues that have come up. Serafina thinks there will be inheritance to renovate the crumbling palazzo, but finds out her father has gambled away the money. Her ancestors who lived in splendor for many generations haven’t kept up the structure except for modernization of essential features. Serafina, thinking there would be family money, studied art history and has a volunteer job at a museum. She wonders how she can even pay the inheritance tax much less make the palazzo a paying entity.
She comes up with a last ditch plan. She finds Gianni Leto who is the CEO of a thriving building business. Perhaps she can entice him to leave Rome for a week long visit to assess her palazzo and see Venice through her eyes. It could help that she’s a contessa. Her ultimate plan is for him to agree to a marriage of convenience. She could get money from a celebrity type magazine that would love to pay for pictures for a special wedding in Venice. She had almost gone through with that when she was engaged to a Hollywood movie star. That hope was dashed when said star cheated on her.
The author portrays Serafina as a savvy woman trying to help herself and her mother not as a predatory person just out to get what she needs.Nathan is savvy, too, with great business sense. He can’t help being charmed by the lovely Serafina and the wonders of Venice.
Venice is almost a character itself as the author explores the many sights and sounds. The description of the canals changing color throughout the day was just lovely. The food of the area plays a vital part in the week long journey of the two main characters.
Betrayal and family issues is the focus for both Serafina and Nathan. They have both had to deal with it on many levels and have to struggle with it to move on.
There were some twists later in the story that took me by surprise. The author does a masterful job of making them authentic.
I loved this adventure in Venice. I have never been, but books and movies have given me a certain sense of how it must be. Kate Hardy is a new to me author. I can see how she has won awards with her writing style. I hope to go on another trip via one of her charming stories.
Book Info:
Publication: February 22, 2022 | Harlequin Romance |
In award-winning author Kate Hardy’s royal romance, walk the Venetian streets with an Italian contessa and a gorgeous CEO!One week to save her palazzo……and heal her heart Penniless contessa Serafina Ardizzone needs to rebuild her family’s crumbling palazzo in Venice, and she has just one week to persuade handsome CEO Gianni Leto to help! Neither are looking for anything more than a business relationship—this is strictly professional. But as Venice casts its spell and they dance under the moonlight in St. Mark’s Square, romance is in the air… Can the next seven days together change their lives—forever?
