REVIEW: Unbuttoning the Tuscan Tycoon by Michelle Douglas

Unbuttoning the Tuscan Tycoon by Michelle Douglas: Dante has left Rome and his normal business life to head to Tuscany where his family owns a vineyard. He wants to open a restaurant to honor his grandfather, Lorenzo, who made his current life possible. He needs to make the restaurant Lorenzo’s the epitome of fine dining and fine wine in the area. He is working hard to line up just the right staff.

Frankie has left Australia behind to spend a summer in Tuscany thanks to a legacy and advice from her late, beloved grandmother. Frankie needs to decide what medical specialty she will pursue and perhaps a carefree summer will help. She has visions of picking grapes in the Tuscan sun. Both Frankie’s and Dante’s plans change after they meet. The chef Dante hired is ‘taking a runner”, so Dante will have to take over the cooking. He is an expert at that. That leaves him needing a maitre de’. He talks Frankie into doing that job for a few weeks.

Dante doesn’t know about Frankie’s medical training and thinks she is just a carefree tourist looking for fun. She does have a lighthearted way about her with living in a van she calls Bertha and playing songs on a ukulele.
There are some adjustments since Dante tends to yell when he is stressed, but Frankie can see beyond that even though she doesn’t know much about his background. Can Frankie loosen up Dante and avoid too much entanglement?

I admired both Dante and Frankie. Dante had a difficult childhood until he was 12. Frankie felt pressure to follow the path of her father and grandfather. They both had the desire to succeed. It seemed Frankie really needed time off to decide her future and find out more about the Tuscan ancestors her Nonna had told her about. It was wonderful that Frankie learned Italian when she was young. Both character showed a lot of growth over the story arc. That can be hard for people to let go of certain hindrances.

The Tuscan setting was just lovely. I had vision from the movie, “Under A Tuscan Son” with all the vibrant colors. The food described made me hungry.

I have read and reviewed several lovely novels by Michelle Douglas in the past. The only reason I didn’t give this book an even higher rating is I felt the word “Dio” was overused. Other than that I spent relaxing time with this delightful story. This is the first in a duet. I look forward to the second one.

Book Info:

Publication: February 21, 2023 | Harlequin Romance | One Summer In Italy #

Sparks are flying under the Tuscan sun in the latest Harlequin Romance by Michelle Douglas.

This summer…

…will these opposites attract?

Taking a break from her high stress job, Frankie expected to be picking grapes on a vineyard—not running the restaurant instead! But the instant fireworks with her brooding new boss meant he was impossible to say no to—for all the right reasons. While Dante may seem uptight, Frankie enjoys how she can use her new carefree attitude to help unbutton this tempting tycoon and reveal his long-buried playful side…

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

One Summer in Italy

Book 1: Unbuttoning the Tuscan Tycoon
Book 2: Cinderella’s Secret Fling