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Across the lagoon
186 pages
A sun-drenched Venetian escape where a spirited heroine clashes with her brooding, impossibly handsome employer.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage romance feels like stepping into a sun-drenched, mid-century postcard of Venice. The narrative moves at a brisk, escapist pace, sweeping the reader into a classic clash of wills between a bright, naive heroine and a stern, brooding hero. The atmosphere is thick with the sensory delights of Italy, providing a lush backdrop for the simmering, breathless romantic tension. Its prose is earnest and delightfully melodramatic, capturing the innocent charm of a bygone era of category romance. It is a perfect, cozy indulgence for readers who love the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, fish-out-of-water adventures, and the swoony satisfaction of watching a hardened man's heart slowly melt under the Mediterranean sun.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- atmospheric
- swoony
- escapist
- Tone
- earnest
- romantic
- melodramatic
- wistful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- fish out of water · softening a hardened heart · the magic of travel · workplace romance · grumpy and sunshine
- The writing
- Descriptive and emotionally earnest, painting lush European backdrops while leaning into breathless romantic tension.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from wide-eyed, intimidated excitement to a confident, passionate romantic awakening.
- Who it's for
- Readers who adore vintage category romances featuring stern, brooding heroes and bright, capable heroines clashing in glamorous locales.
Content notes
- dated gender dynamics
- mild age gap
About the book
Never having been abroad in her life before, Carol was thrilled to land the job of looking after Gray Barrett's teen-age niece for the summer in Venice.
Stephanie, however, turned out to be rather a handful. But still Carol found her easier to deal with than her grim but attractive uncle!
Description from Open Library.
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