The Temptation of Gracie

Product Information

Ramsey was a more interesting main character than Grace, but I still couldn't get past the slow pace and the fact that I felt the the story was, well, just boring. Not sure why I kept feeling that way, but it made it hard to finish. I did really like the message behind this book; that you are enough and worthy of being loved. Ramsey's struggle with his own guilt over being happy was painfully relatable and made me like him more.

In this book the third owner of Temptation – Ramsey Scott, Marquess of Stirling – meets the woman he will marry. He is NOT looking for a wife and in fact believes he never will marry again. He is however a good friend and when asked by Heathcliff for assistance in the debut of his ward, Iris Grace Morgan well, Ramsey is definitely going to be there for his friend and business partner.

Synopsis

Throughout the book there are a number of scenes with Samantha and Heathcliff, the couple from the second book in the series. I really enjoy Grace’s friendship with Samantha and how supportive Samantha was of Grace. Plus I really like Samantha and Heathcliff as a couple so it was fantastic seeing them again. The couple from the first book, Liliah and Lucas, appear towards the end of the book and I enjoyed seeing them again as well. Even though this is book #3 in this series and there are characters that tie these books together this one reads well as a standalone. I just finished the entire series, so I'm posting an all over review here because I feel like I read the same book three times. I enjoyed them, but only barely. There is only so much giggling you can handle or "knowing glances passed between friends" lines you can read before it gets boringly repetitive. The Temptation of Gracie is a standalone book, centered around Gracie herself, her daughter Carina and granddaughter Anastasia. It is again set in Italy and Devon and also over dual time-frames. Elderly Gracie Burton lives in Devon, where she spends her time walking her two dogs along the cliffs and helping to organise various events in the village. According to herself, and to the knowledge of her friends and even her own family, Gracie has led an unremarkable life, so when Grace suddenly announces that she is going to Tuscany to stay in a castle for a week-long Italian cookery course, it not only sets tongues wagging but has just about everyone she knows aghast at the idea. As Gracie sets off to sunnier climes, reluctant daughter and granddaughter in tow, the memories stirred up by the trip for Gracie that will have long-lasting implications for all of them. When Gracie Burton stumbles upon a weeklong cooking course at Castello Montefosco, a castle in the sun-kissed Tuscan countryside, she cannot resist the opportunity to revisit the past she left behind in Italy. Since her husband’s death eight years earlier, Gracie has grown apart from her daughter, Carina, a high-powered businesswoman in London and her granddaughter, Anastasia, who would rather spend her time on her phone than with her family, but both women decide to join her. Little do they know that a lifetime of secrets await them in Italy.

From the very beginning, I was absolutely in love with the portrayal of Gracie's social "club" friends in her community. There's a woman named Flappy who takes it upon herself to know everything about everyone first, and gives off the illusion that she is fluent in multiple languages, worldly, and well-read—none of which is remotely true. I loved the casual snarkiness of the narration that pokes fun at her and other women in their club. Even when the story shifts to Italy, there are occasional chapters that return to Flappy and her antics at trying to organize a funeral for a man in the community. These could have felt out of place and unnecessary, but I absolutely loved them. Sometimes story mesh well with me, and sometimes they don't. There was nothing particularly wrong with this one, but there are some excellent, new historical romances out there and this one didn't stand up against them. Although there were some predictable points in the storyline, I felt that there was enough material in the story to keep me interested. The relationship between Gracie and her granddaughter, Anastasia was beautifully written and made me miss my maternal grandmother very much. As well, just like so many other books set in Italy- I finished this book very hungry. As well, I will always remember that garlic and onion divorced and that is why we don't cook them together. Haha! If only her daughter Carina and granddaughter Anastasia knew the intriguing and colourful life Gracie led so many years ago they would be more than surprised. This trip the three women undertake together will prove life changing in more ways than one. Each will have their perspectives altered and the big secret that has been kept under wraps for so long will be revealed as the Tuscan countryside works its magic and old memories are stirred and come simmering to the surface. Gracie discovers you can't hide something forever when so many outside forces are working to have the truth make itself known. Santa Montefiore's novels have been translated into twenty languages and have sold more than three million copies in England and Europe. Born in England in 1970 Santa Montefiore grew up on a farm in Hampshire and was educated at Sherborne School for Girls. She read Spanish and Italian at Exeter University and spent much of the 90s in Buenos Aires, where her mother grew up. She converted to Judaism in 1998 and married historian Simon Sebag Montefiore in the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London. They live with their two children, Lily and Sasha in London.The first thing that jumped out at me were the warm characters, they were relatable and so easy to visualise. I couldn’t help but giggle at the group of ladies from Badley Compton as they attempted to stage an intervention. Okay. Let me say that I don't generally enjoy romance novels: novels dealing heavily with romance, or contemporary novels that are sort of unrealistic but whimsical. When Gracie Burton stumbles upon an advertisement for a week-long cookery course in the heart of the Tuscan countryside,she cannot resist, and ploughs her life savings into the trip. One final shout out about this book and that is the characters: they were all wonderful. However, my particular favourite was Flappy Scott-Booth – the bossy, snobby, interfering head of Badley Compton Ladies’ Book Club. She was an absolute delight to read about and added several (unintentional on her part) comedy moments. I’m desperately hoping she appears in more books in the future.

I loved the way society tries to rule over people's lives. This group of people risk everything to make their lives their own. It's bold, innocent, sweet, and refreshing. One and only true love... Born in England in 1970 Santa Montefiore grew up on a farm in Hampshire and was educated at Sherborne School for Girls. She read Spanish and Italian at Exeter University and spent much of the 90s in Buenos Aires, where her mother grew up. She converted to Judaism in 1998 and married historian Simon Sebag Montefiore in the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London. They live with their two children, Lily and Sasha in London. Then there was the emotional side of the story which broke my heart and made it leap in equal measures. As a Mum, I felt so sad for Gracie and her quiet longing for the family she missed so much. As a woman, I applauded her defiant courage in doing something that would bring her happiness and not concerning herself with other people’s opinions on the matter. It soon became clear that Gracie had a secret and I must admit that I did have a vague idea what it could be. It turned out I was partially correct with my prediction! There is the way Grace took matters into her own hands. She is a determined and smart woman not willing to wait a lifetime for what should be hers now. Unlike most women, Grace isn't sitting on the sidelines until a man saves her. She makes her own choices. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this historical romance novel.

I really wanted to love The Temptation of Grace, but it took me forever to get through, and with so much excellent historical romance out there, it didn't stand out. I really wanted to love The Temptation of Gracie as I have been a big fan of Santa Montefiore for years and years but this story simply didn't blow me away and have me lost in its content. Gracie came across as very weak in the present day and then seemed to be so strong and willing in the past. How could someone have changed so dramatically? At times it felt like I was reading two separate stories and a successful emergence of the two didn't occur. It's a nice enough summer read but not the most memorable from this author. Chiar dacă acțiunea cărții se împarte în două planuri temporale și perspectiva sare de la un personaj la altul, stilul de scriere al autoarei nu este obositor și nici plicticos. Creează o stare de nerăbdare la aflarea secretelor - care nu sunt puține - și plăcere de a descoperi gândurile și trăirile fiecărui personaj în parte. Intriga lasă loc multor momente sensibile și romantismul se trezește nu doar în viața tinerei Gracie, ci plutește și în jurul Anastasiei, care îi seamănă bunicii ei în multe privințe. Previzibilă pe alocuri, povestea nu și-a pierdut totuși din farmec și m-a încântat prin peisaje, dialoguri cu umor și m-a făcut să suspin de drag, dar și de teamă.