"He was exactly what I had always envisioned my ideal that guy to be." (7)
Title: A Portrait of Emily PriceAuthor: Katherine Reay
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. But when Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family is another matter . . .
Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.
But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.
Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land, culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.
Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?
O my goodness! O my goodness! I just love it when a book so naturally put a smile on my face time and time again. A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay does just that, and is a portrait of an ideal novel to me. From the very first page to the last, I was engrossed in the magnetism one feels between our main characters, Emily and Ben. The language, spoken and unspoken through feelings was just spot on. The author's writing was so easy to read, like it just flows through your eyes, allowing you to absorb every word, every nuances and every feeling those words exhibits. The characters, Emily and Ben were just perfect. I understand them, I can relate to them and I just want to read on about them. Emily is quirky, artistic and somewhat delusional at times, but she was so real, mistakes and all. Ben, o, talk about swoon-worthy.
"...this guy had no clue how handsome he was...and no awareness at all that I was melting right before him." (3)
It's not only the handsome facade, but the demeanor, the character and the spark. O, Ben.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
TO PURCHASE A COPY
Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries—who provide constant inspiration both for writing and for life. She is the author of three previous novels, and her debut, Dear Mr. Knightley, was a 2014 Christy Award Finalist, winner of the 2014 INSPY Award for Best Debut, and winner of two Carol Awards for Best Debut and Best Contemporary. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, runner, and tae kwon do black belt. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine and her family recently moved back to Chicago.
Excellent review, Annie! I LOVE Katherine's stories. :)
ReplyDeleteThank You Caryl! This one was such a good read!
ReplyDeleteThrilled you loved it! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katherine for stopping in! I really had fun with this one!
Delete