To Sicily with Love (Meet Me in Italy, Band 4) - Softcover

Buch 4 von 4: Meet Me in Italy

Probst, Jennifer

 
9780593546062: To Sicily with Love (Meet Me in Italy, Band 4)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0593546067 ISBN 13: 9780593546062
Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group, 2025

Inhaltsangabe

When she learns she has a big Italian family she never knew about, a lonely woman travels to Sicily for a life-changing summer in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst

Aurora York had it all together: loving parents, a steady relationship, and a promising career. But after she loses both parents unexpectedly, she can’t seem to stay on track any longer. Lonely and lost after a public meltdown that threatens her professional credibility, she’s shocked when DNA test results show a blood relative in Sicily. When her cousin reaches out online and begs her to come to Italy to meet everyone in person, Aurora makes the leap.

Aurora arrives in Sicily for a month, and there she meets a colorful, dynamic family steeped in tradition. The younger generation is fascinated by her social media fame in America, and even though her grandparents have more traditional viewpoints, Aurora begins to heal from her grief…and enjoys the attention of a kind and handsome Italian man.

But when the summer ends, a new opportunity calls her back to the States and her old habits threaten to reemerge. Will Aurora leave everything in Sicily she loves behind, or take the chance on a whole new future?

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Jennifer Probst is the New York Times bestselling author of the Billionaire Builders series, the Searching For . . . series, the Marriage to a Billionaire series, the Steele Brothers series, the Stay series, and the Sunshine Sisters series. Like some of her characters, Probst, along with her husband and two sons, calls New York’s Hudson Valley home. When she isn’t traveling to meet readers, she enjoys reading, watching “shameful reality television,” and visiting a local Hudson Valley animal shelter.

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One

I pulled up to the curb and stared at the familiar Cape Cod house. Bright white. Black shutters. A light dusting of snow covered the usual thriving flower and vegetable garden. Two wicker rocking chairs on the front porch held grinning snowmen cushions. Leftover lights from Christmas still wrapped around the railing, the only bright spot in the dreary winter evening. Holding back a sigh, I shoved the endless buzz of thoughts and tasks and ideas igniting my brain to the side and got out of the car.

It was time to see Mom.

I squared my shoulders and tried not to dread my visit with each step. I was horrible. I loved my mother. But these consistent check-ins were beginning to grate on my nerves, especially when each second was precious. As I told my clients regularly, dreams don't work unless you do. And damned if I didn't have a ton of both to conquer.

I walked inside and found her in the kitchen. "Hi, Mom."

"Aurora! How are you, sweetheart?" Guilt hit again as she lit up and hugged me like it was the first time we'd seen each other in ages, instead of only two days. Have mothers always acted like puppies, with a warped sense of time?

Maybe I'd have children one day and find out.

"Good. Really busy. You said you needed help with something?"

She made a sound of annoyance and began waving her hands in the air. "It's the TV again! I tried to save money by switching to the app instead of the cable box, but it doesn't work. I called the company and they said no one could come out because I was doing it wrong." A frown creased her brow. "I'm not an idiot. I know it's broken."

Frustration simmered, but I fought it back. This wasn't an emergency I should be running over to fix, but no matter how many times I explained my schedule, Mom said she understood and wouldn't bother me. Then did. "Let me look at it. The bedroom?"

"Yes. Thank you. I don't know how your dad dealt with all this tech. Are you hungry? I made a quiche and salad. Why don't you stay?"

"Can't. I'm meeting Jason for dinner."

Her silence was answer enough, but I refused to let her piss me off on my date night. It took me less than five minutes to work the two remotes and click on the app causing the trouble. "Mom, come here. You were hitting the wrong button."

"No. That's impossible."

I half closed my eyes. God, she was stubborn. Probably the most stubborn person on the planet. Dad used to laugh and say she'd tire out a mule, but there was no better quality when it came to sheer grit and staying power. "Look, I'll show you."

Her gasp would have made me laugh if I hadn't been so stressed. "I can't believe it. Thank you. Have some water. I bought the vitamin stuff you like."

I was about to tell her no, but the look on her face made me pause. The flicker of longing in her dark eyes, as if she craved company. Crap. Why did she have to feel so lonely? Why couldn't she find some pursuits to fill her time instead of depending on me? It had been five years since Dad passed. She was in her mid-fifties, not her seventies. Was it wrong that I expected more independence from her? I forced a smile. "Sure, Mom."

She practically ran to the kitchen and presented me with the bottle proudly. I took a sip, studying her in the fading light that beamed from the window.

My mother was still beautiful, retaining a timeless elegance. Her rich dark hair was her best asset, with only threads of gray she kept under control with dye. Big brown eyes dominated her face, with lush lashes that any woman would envy. A classic Roman nose, full lips, and heavy slanted brows gave off an earthiness that matched her curvy figure. I'd encouraged her to begin dating, knowing she'd easily attract men with her looks, but Mom refused. She said Dad was the love of her life and she wasn't interested in finding another.

I'd have been happy to see her score a dinner date.

Though we looked alike, we'd always been different. I had the same thick dark hair, though I'd cut mine years ago, to my mother's distress. Now the strands were smooth and curled under my chin in a stylish cut. People always commented that we were like twins. I always wished I'd inherited my father's light blond hair, hazel eyes, and trim build. Instead, I got stuck with too many curves, a too-large nose, and an excess of body hair.

But behavior-wise? Yeah, I was completely my very English dad. I looked at the world in crisp blacks and whites and had laser-sharp focus on tasks that furthered my goals. Rest was my nemesis, along with messy emotion. I'd managed to turn my practicality into a career but lacked the patience my mother held when it came to listening to rants or endless whining. I didn't believe in "poor me." I believed in fixing it.

My mom exuded a warm, nurturing persona that sucked in everyone who craved a listening ear, a hug, or a favor. She loved cooking, naps, gardening, and long conversations that had no real point.

We were opposites who couldn't seem to understand each other. It had made for some epic fights when I was a teen, during which Mom had surprised me with her legendary Italian temper. Dad always said when she reached her limit and snapped, no one wanted to be near the explosion.

Too bad I was an only child. It really sucked not to have any siblings. Mom had multiple miscarriages after me, so they'd eventually decided to stop trying. Both my parents were also only children. I'd grown up without any type of extended family. I literally had no grandparents, cousins, or aunts or uncles, which was a bummer around the holidays, but at least I got full attention and all the presents.

Unfortunately, presents no longer mattered, and I was the sole target of my mother's scrutiny.

Lucky me.

"What are you up to this week?" she asked.

I shook my head at the thought of my schedule. "It's nonstop. I'm booked with client appointments, and I want to get a handle on the new season of the podcast. Plus, I fell behind on the book, so I need to get some writing done." I chattered on about the other responsibilities on my plate, hoping she'd get a sense of how busy I truly was.

She nodded, but a tiny frown caused her brow to crease. "When was the last time you saw Hannah or April?"

"I don't know-six months, maybe? I had to cancel our last meet-up. But they're doing well."

The frown deepened. "Honey, I don't understand why you lost touch. They were your best friends all through college. It's like you've suddenly dropped them."

And here we go.

I tried not to get irritated. "Mom, we're all busy. They have young kids now and I'm building a business. Things change."

"Some things should be prioritized," she said gently. "Like good friends. Work can't take the place of relationships."

"Meaningful work can," I shot back. "Plus, I have Jason. We're getting serious and that's my priority right now."

I could tell she wanted to say something but held back. The irritation grew into anger, especially when I spotted the gleam of disapproval in her eyes. Not only for Jason but for my choices as well. For the work I put my heart and soul into that she didn't understand.

For my entire life.

Why couldn't my mother be happy with her own life instead of trying to manage mine? She always wanted something from me. A call, a text, a visit. Poking at my choices, consistently telling me I needed to slow down.

I'd finally invited Jason to Sunday dinner, hopeful Mom would see all the wonderful things I did. Instead, there was an underlying tension that hung heavily over the dining room table.

I hated the way she'd immediately judged his muscles and good looks. She never said a word of criticism, but I knew. It was obvious in her gaze as he politely refused most of the food that contained carbs and spoke about...

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Verlag
Penguin Publishing Group
Erscheinungsdatum
2025
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
0593546067
ISBN 13 
9780593546062
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
384
Kontakt zum Hersteller
BERKLEY
https://www.penguin.com/?s=BERKLEY

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