Summer Fever
Author: Kate Riordan
Published by: Michael J Books
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★
Published by: Michael J Books
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★
Two couples. One sweltering Italian villa . . .
Nick and Laura are the hosts: pretending their marriage isn't on the rocks.
Madison and Bastian are the guests: neither is remotely who they claim to be.
Under the scorching Mediterranean sun, no secret is safe.
No betrayal goes unnoticed.
Two couples. But will either survive the summer . . .
Nick and Laura are the hosts: pretending their marriage isn't on the rocks.
Madison and Bastian are the guests: neither is remotely who they claim to be.
Under the scorching Mediterranean sun, no secret is safe.
No betrayal goes unnoticed.
Two couples. But will either survive the summer . . .
My thoughts:
A big thank you to the author Kate Riordan, and Michael J Books for sending me out a proof copy of the book to read!
Set in rural Italy, Summer Fever takes us to the beautiful farmhouse owned by Laura and Nick. A couple who has been unable to have a child. After failed IVF treatments, Laura and Nick decide to fulfil Laura’s dream to sell up and move to Italy. They find the wonderful Luna Rossa, house, pool and beautiful views set in a more remote, lesser-known area of Italy called Le Marche. ‘The next Tuscany’. It soon emerges that all is not well, and the tension builds along with the temperature, as the story unfolds.
First of all, the setting in Italy is fantastic and the author uses all on offer to add to the atmosphere, including weather to match stormy moods and add an element of tantalising danger.
The story unfolds gradually, told using varied timeframes including flashbacks to Laura’s younger days at university. Laura and Nick’s marriage isn’t in a good place but Nick is desperate to make amends. However, when guests Bastian and Madison arrive from The States, the atmosphere soon changes. Nick and Laura were unsure of how it would feel to have strangers in their home. How should they behave? Should they eat with them, or separately? Give them space? On arrival however, Madison seems more than willing to be friends and as the two couples start to get to know one another, the dynamics of the four characters make for a wonderfully addictive read.
Kate again does a marvellous job at capturing the setting and the heat of a European summer. The story is compelling and enjoyable with a few twists and turns that I saw coming.
Having so loved the author’s last book ,The Heatwave, I went in with very high expectations for this one. And whilst Summer Fever didn’t quite hit the same heights for me, it did hold my attention and I found myself wanting to go back to it at the earliest opportunity. It’s gritty and dark at times, but compelling and stylishly written. An engaging poolside read for the summer.
Overall reaction:
A big thank you to the author Kate Riordan, and Michael J Books for sending me out a proof copy of the book to read!
Set in rural Italy, Summer Fever takes us to the beautiful farmhouse owned by Laura and Nick. A couple who has been unable to have a child. After failed IVF treatments, Laura and Nick decide to fulfil Laura’s dream to sell up and move to Italy. They find the wonderful Luna Rossa, house, pool and beautiful views set in a more remote, lesser-known area of Italy called Le Marche. ‘The next Tuscany’. It soon emerges that all is not well, and the tension builds along with the temperature, as the story unfolds.
First of all, the setting in Italy is fantastic and the author uses all on offer to add to the atmosphere, including weather to match stormy moods and add an element of tantalising danger.
The story unfolds gradually, told using varied timeframes including flashbacks to Laura’s younger days at university. Laura and Nick’s marriage isn’t in a good place but Nick is desperate to make amends. However, when guests Bastian and Madison arrive from The States, the atmosphere soon changes. Nick and Laura were unsure of how it would feel to have strangers in their home. How should they behave? Should they eat with them, or separately? Give them space? On arrival however, Madison seems more than willing to be friends and as the two couples start to get to know one another, the dynamics of the four characters make for a wonderfully addictive read.
Kate again does a marvellous job at capturing the setting and the heat of a European summer. The story is compelling and enjoyable with a few twists and turns that I saw coming.
Having so loved the author’s last book ,The Heatwave, I went in with very high expectations for this one. And whilst Summer Fever didn’t quite hit the same heights for me, it did hold my attention and I found myself wanting to go back to it at the earliest opportunity. It’s gritty and dark at times, but compelling and stylishly written. An engaging poolside read for the summer.
Overall reaction:
