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Otto Viti Mysteries #0.5
Honeymoon in Italy
When Jill D'Angelo agrees to join her two sisters on an Italian vacation, she only hopes the three of them can go the whole week without driving each other crazy. She has her doubts, but she knows the trip is in Italy, they will retrace the steps of their parents' honeymoon to commemorate the five-year anniversary of their parents' passing. Little does Jill know, the getaway will be full of traveling mishaps, family secrets from long ago, and the reawakening of a sisterly bond that had been dormant nearly five years. But the biggest surprise of all? Meeting Nico. All Otto Viti stories can be reads as stand alones--no spoilers from previous books! They may, however, be enjoyed most when read in Honeymoon in Before the Otto Viti Mysteries (Story #1) Must Be An Otto Viti Mystery (Story #2) Fired and An Otto Viti Mystery (Story #3) Starved for An Otto Viti Mystery (Story #4) Each book is a clean read! No graphic scenes! Thank you for reading!
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2017
1339 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Jen Carter
18 books41 followersJen is a teacher and writer who loves writing for both children and adults, including the Sarafina Series for school-aged children and the new Otto Viti Mystery Series for adults. She lives with her beautiful family in the San Diego area. In her free time, she enjoys running, practicing yoga, and reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 5, 2020
The story:
“Jill,
Holly wants us to go to Italy this summer. She found this scrapbook of Mom and Dad’s honeymoon and thinks we should take a trip to celebrate their lives since all we ever do is mourn their deaths. I said I’d go. You in?
Stella”
That little note from one sister to another starts their journey of discovery. Holly, Jill and Stella lost their parents in a boating accident 5 years ago. Rather than spend another year being depressed and mourning the loss, they decide they want to celebrate their parents lives and love and retrace their honeymoon steps through Italy.
In my opinion, I would not classify this as a romance. The middle girl (Jill) is attracted to a guy in Italy and he does come to their rescue several times. They share a kiss around 85% and at the end of the book she picks him up from the airport. So I don’t even really know the status of them as a couple because the book wasn’t about them. So, if you are looking for romance, this is not the book for you.
However, if you are looking for a book about family, this is the book for you. Each girl is struggling with their parents death in their own way and this trip causes them to do some self reflecting. I adored the 3 sisters and the dynamics between them. So realistic and very relatable for anyone who has siblings.
The book’s main focus is the girls trip to honor their parents. I loved the way they uncovered new things about their parents and that they were clearly able to feel how much their parents really loved each other. There were some heart tugging moments as the girls followed their parents footsteps through Italy and some wonderful moments with the girls themselves. Overall, I really enjoyed the family love at the heart of the story.
Quotes
“By the way, I lied about the mooo-zar-ellla. We don’t have any. I just wanted to say moo-zar-ellla.”
“Sheesh, this trip was making me face some intense questions. I had expected the emotion on this trip to be limited to annoyance over my sisters’ quirks and habits. So much for that.”
“Our parents. I had always known that they were generous and kind. But on this trip, it was becoming clear that the depths of their love and sacrifice went further than I imagined. It saddened me that I never got to say thank you for all that I hadn’t known. Dang.”
“Life might not always go the way we expect, but it’s the unexpectedness that brings gratitude and humility.”
“Jill,
Holly wants us to go to Italy this summer. She found this scrapbook of Mom and Dad’s honeymoon and thinks we should take a trip to celebrate their lives since all we ever do is mourn their deaths. I said I’d go. You in?
Stella”
That little note from one sister to another starts their journey of discovery. Holly, Jill and Stella lost their parents in a boating accident 5 years ago. Rather than spend another year being depressed and mourning the loss, they decide they want to celebrate their parents lives and love and retrace their honeymoon steps through Italy.
In my opinion, I would not classify this as a romance. The middle girl (Jill) is attracted to a guy in Italy and he does come to their rescue several times. They share a kiss around 85% and at the end of the book she picks him up from the airport. So I don’t even really know the status of them as a couple because the book wasn’t about them. So, if you are looking for romance, this is not the book for you.
However, if you are looking for a book about family, this is the book for you. Each girl is struggling with their parents death in their own way and this trip causes them to do some self reflecting. I adored the 3 sisters and the dynamics between them. So realistic and very relatable for anyone who has siblings.
The book’s main focus is the girls trip to honor their parents. I loved the way they uncovered new things about their parents and that they were clearly able to feel how much their parents really loved each other. There were some heart tugging moments as the girls followed their parents footsteps through Italy and some wonderful moments with the girls themselves. Overall, I really enjoyed the family love at the heart of the story.
Quotes
“By the way, I lied about the mooo-zar-ellla. We don’t have any. I just wanted to say moo-zar-ellla.”
“Sheesh, this trip was making me face some intense questions. I had expected the emotion on this trip to be limited to annoyance over my sisters’ quirks and habits. So much for that.”
“Our parents. I had always known that they were generous and kind. But on this trip, it was becoming clear that the depths of their love and sacrifice went further than I imagined. It saddened me that I never got to say thank you for all that I hadn’t known. Dang.”
“Life might not always go the way we expect, but it’s the unexpectedness that brings gratitude and humility.”
June 1, 2017
Ginger Pollard
I was gifted a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this little trip to Italy with three sisters whose parents had died five years earlier. Instead of mourning the death of their parents they decided to celebrate the honeymoon their parents had taken about 30 years ago. I felt like I was right there in Italy with them! It's a fast moving story, and a good story about sisterhood. Highly recommend!
I was gifted a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this little trip to Italy with three sisters whose parents had died five years earlier. Instead of mourning the death of their parents they decided to celebrate the honeymoon their parents had taken about 30 years ago. I felt like I was right there in Italy with them! It's a fast moving story, and a good story about sisterhood. Highly recommend!
August 3, 2017
Honeymoon in Italy is a heart-warming tale of three sisters retracing their parents' honeymoon some 29 years earlier. Each one of them is struggling with their parents' accidental death in their own way, but none of them have moved forward and are still stuck in the cycle of grief. The story clearly depicts the typical characteristics of the oldest, middle and youngest child as they plan and set out on their journey of discovery. When all of Stella's meticulously well made plans go into disarray, it is Nico who steps in and saves the day, not once but three times over. Holly is the motor mouth and mischief maker in the family but in her own way she gets results. Jill is floating along in a bubble, not sure of herself or how to take up the reins in her life. However, it is Jill who makes a connection with Nico as he speaks to her heart. Stella, as the oldest child, is rigidly in command of her life and the lives of her family and sisters. Through the ups and downs of the trip she realises that she has to let go and start living the moment the way her mother did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the interaction between the sisters and the unravelling mystery that none of them suspected in the first place. I would have liked it if they had been able to discover the post box in Rome where the third key to their parents' past lay, but with the time constraints on the small party of travellers that was not to be. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it kept my interest all the way through. It was also refreshing to read a book without bad language and explicit bedroom scenes.
June 18, 2017
I received this book for my honest review. The premise of the book was wonderful - three sisters visiting places in Italy where their now deceased parents had honeymooned. The three sisters - Jill, Holly and Stella - were very different, but this trip helped them know each other much better and also enabled each sister to be stronger, braver and eventually able to plan their futures with integrity and love. The sisters' greatest gift was learning more about their parents, feeling closer to them, and realizing how passionate they both were.I loved the parts where they found the letters left by their parents in the various post offices on their stops. Nico provided the hunk factor in the novel. He was the problem-solver who helped the girls in their adventure, from finding lost luggage to becoming enamored of Jill. The setting in Italy was beautiful. I feel there could have been more description in the book, but the plot was unique and satisfying.
December 30, 2018
This was a good read. The description of the countryside encouraged me to ask my grandson about what he saw while he was in Italy. The plot was neat and the idea of the three sisters getting to know more about each other and learning to accept each other made me wish (again) that I had had a sister. But who knows, maybe I have cousins who would love to hike around a country like Italy. It amazes me that so many people speak English in other countries since so few of us here in America speak other languages unless we were raised in a family with another language. The idea of the wine country being so similar to that of California made me smile. But the state of the grandmother made me sad. Life is what happens to us. These three girls learned that together more than any other way. Will enjoy reading more by this author.
May 4, 2018
Delightful story. This is billed as a pre- Otto Viti mysteries novella and was a perfect way to introduce the three D'Angelo sisters, Stella, Jill and Holly and their grandfather Aldo who has a vineyard and winery in Otto Viti, a small town in California. Their parents had died in a boating accident 5 years before and to honor their memory the sisters decide to retrace their honeymoon in Italy. Stella had found their mother's scrapbook about the trip and they decide to visit three of the honeymoon sites, a small town along the Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome. Along the way they made discoveries about their parents and themselves. The descriptions of Italy made me want to go back! The characters were compelling making me want to read more about them.
March 31, 2019
When is a honeymoon in Italy not a honeymoon?
When three twenty-something sisters take a trip to Italy five years after their parents' deaths to follow that same honeymoon trail taken 30 years before.
Starting in Vernazza, then on to Florence and Rome, the three women learn new things about themselves, their relationship with each other, as well as a few secrets about their parents.
An enjoyable read, with humour, sibling rivalry, great scenery and a real sense of family, where the motto is to live in the moment, take a leap of faith now and then, and just be who you are.
I'll be checking out the other books in this series for sure.
When three twenty-something sisters take a trip to Italy five years after their parents' deaths to follow that same honeymoon trail taken 30 years before.
Starting in Vernazza, then on to Florence and Rome, the three women learn new things about themselves, their relationship with each other, as well as a few secrets about their parents.
An enjoyable read, with humour, sibling rivalry, great scenery and a real sense of family, where the motto is to live in the moment, take a leap of faith now and then, and just be who you are.
I'll be checking out the other books in this series for sure.
January 25, 2021
Loved it!
It was a terrific read. Sad and poignant at times, fun at others and oh so true glimpses of sisters you love to hate at times! I wanted to jump on a plane and land in Rome and run to the Aventine Hill, go to the park overlooking the city and then peak through the keyhole at the Knights of Malta to see the perfect picture of St. Peter's Basilica. I now have a picture of it as the lock screen on my cellphone. I have stored three pictures. One is in daylight, one at sunset and one at night. Moving on to the next book right now! Can't wait for more of Jill and Nico's story.
It was a terrific read. Sad and poignant at times, fun at others and oh so true glimpses of sisters you love to hate at times! I wanted to jump on a plane and land in Rome and run to the Aventine Hill, go to the park overlooking the city and then peak through the keyhole at the Knights of Malta to see the perfect picture of St. Peter's Basilica. I now have a picture of it as the lock screen on my cellphone. I have stored three pictures. One is in daylight, one at sunset and one at night. Moving on to the next book right now! Can't wait for more of Jill and Nico's story.
May 15, 2018
This is one of those light and easy books that are so much fun because they describe an almost ideal trip to Italy (just a bit short) and the interactions of 3 sisters as they retrace the steps of their deceased parents' honeymoon. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places in Italy, and the interactions between the three very different sisters. And then there's a sweet little romance to cap it off. Apparently this is the prequel to a series of cozy mysteries set in a vineyard in California owned by the grandfather of the sisters. I'm looking forward to checking out the mysteries too.
July 13, 2018
It is rare to find a book that is clean , wholesome and fun to read like "Honeymoon in Italy".
The family dynamic illustrated in the book is nostalgic. I also enjoyed the description of the places in the story, as well as the clean romantic aspect of the book.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family. I am looking forward to reading other books in the series.
The family dynamic illustrated in the book is nostalgic. I also enjoyed the description of the places in the story, as well as the clean romantic aspect of the book.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family. I am looking forward to reading other books in the series.
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November 26, 2019Honeymoon in Italy
Enjoyable read about three sisters who after their parents death find a scrapbook covering their parents honeymoon in Italy. Financed by their winery owner Grandfather who was born in Italy, they leave their individual lives in California to spend a week together tracing their parents footsteps. The trip reveals long held family secrets and brings new bonds between the sisters as well as changes to each of their futures. Easy, quick entertaining read.
Enjoyable read about three sisters who after their parents death find a scrapbook covering their parents honeymoon in Italy. Financed by their winery owner Grandfather who was born in Italy, they leave their individual lives in California to spend a week together tracing their parents footsteps. The trip reveals long held family secrets and brings new bonds between the sisters as well as changes to each of their futures. Easy, quick entertaining read.
September 9, 2020
A tale of sisters who go back to Italy to retrace the steps of their parents honeymoon trip to Italy. They find out more about their parents, themselves and each other and perhaps their true callings in life. An interesting read, albeit a little twee and predictable in places. I did feel the book just ended though so that left me a bit wanting storyline wise.....but I suppose thats the point of a book 1 in a series.
May 27, 2018
Retracing the honeymoon?
Three sisters decide to spend a week in Italy visiting cities from their dead parents honeymoon. Lots of surprises in store for them as they locate the post office boxes their mother rented. The unattached sister is attracted to an clay wine shop owner they meet. Each of the sisters learns something about themselves.
Three sisters decide to spend a week in Italy visiting cities from their dead parents honeymoon. Lots of surprises in store for them as they locate the post office boxes their mother rented. The unattached sister is attracted to an clay wine shop owner they meet. Each of the sisters learns something about themselves.
October 21, 2018
A good rom-com-drama with glorious imagery
I enjoyed meeting this trio of sisters. I immediately felt a kinship to Holly and her POV. The story started out a wee bit slow, but now it all makes sense. At times I felt like I was walking in Italy, deep in conversation alongside these ladies. A fun ride, I want to read more of their story!
I enjoyed meeting this trio of sisters. I immediately felt a kinship to Holly and her POV. The story started out a wee bit slow, but now it all makes sense. At times I felt like I was walking in Italy, deep in conversation alongside these ladies. A fun ride, I want to read more of their story!
March 4, 2019
Fun and interesting
A quick read, keeps moving at a nice pace. Light hearted, but thoughtful too. Everyone can relate to at least one of the sisters. Many questions were left unanswered, a great way to move into the next story. If you want a quick fun get away for a few hours, this is the book for you.
A quick read, keeps moving at a nice pace. Light hearted, but thoughtful too. Everyone can relate to at least one of the sisters. Many questions were left unanswered, a great way to move into the next story. If you want a quick fun get away for a few hours, this is the book for you.
November 4, 2019
Short but rather sweet
I needed a lightweight read following a complicated historical fiction, and this fit the bill. Kind of like lemon sorbet after a large entree. The characters were likable, the storyline made for easy reading, and the locales brought back fond memories of past travels in Italy. If possible, I would give it three and a half stars for the memories alone.
I needed a lightweight read following a complicated historical fiction, and this fit the bill. Kind of like lemon sorbet after a large entree. The characters were likable, the storyline made for easy reading, and the locales brought back fond memories of past travels in Italy. If possible, I would give it three and a half stars for the memories alone.
November 9, 2019
Five years ago, Jill D’Angelo lost her parents in a boating accident. This year, Jill and her sisters decide to take a trip to Italy to commemorate the five-year anniversary of their parents’ death.
Instead of mourning them, the sisters decide to celebrate their parents’ honeymoon after discovering a scrapbook their parents made of their honeymoon in Italy 30 years ago. A fun read
Instead of mourning them, the sisters decide to celebrate their parents’ honeymoon after discovering a scrapbook their parents made of their honeymoon in Italy 30 years ago. A fun read
November 17, 2020
After finishing a great (and long) historical fiction, I wanted something light and easy to read. Honeymoon in Italy checked those boxes and was an enjoyable read. I was drawn to it mostly because of Italy where I vacationed a few years back and it invoked wonderful memories of that trip. The character of the three sisters and their reaction and coping the with death of their parents was varied and diverse, and the storyline was predictable, but enjoyable.
June 7, 2017
I received a free copy from the author via AXP; this is my honest review.
An absolute delight to read.
Remarkable descriptions of the country (Italy): buildings, places to see, etc.
Good development in the romance; good, slow, and believable growth in the sisters' bonding.
Pick-up your book today!
An absolute delight to read.
Remarkable descriptions of the country (Italy): buildings, places to see, etc.
Good development in the romance; good, slow, and believable growth in the sisters' bonding.
Pick-up your book today!
August 28, 2017
Beautiful italy and a love story
I dont often give five star ratings. This may be the first. This story is well written and includes a mystery, a love story and travel advice! No sex. No foul language. No violence. I loved it.
I dont often give five star ratings. This may be the first. This story is well written and includes a mystery, a love story and travel advice! No sex. No foul language. No violence. I loved it.
September 6, 2017
Really enjoyed this light book. I have been to the area and brought back memories.
I really enjoyed this light story. Have been there and brought back memories. Will continue to read Jen Carter's books.
I really enjoyed this light story. Have been there and brought back memories. Will continue to read Jen Carter's books.
September 26, 2017
A Trip To Remember
A most pleasant read! Sisters plan a trip to Italy to revisit their parents' honeymoon destinations as a tribute to the deceased parents. Italy is lovely and our heroine Jill meets Nico. What will be their conclusion. Tune in!
A most pleasant read! Sisters plan a trip to Italy to revisit their parents' honeymoon destinations as a tribute to the deceased parents. Italy is lovely and our heroine Jill meets Nico. What will be their conclusion. Tune in!
May 9, 2018
A trio of sisters
This was a fun book, and held my interest. Wanted to give five stars but the ending was rushed and more detail to finish it up would have helped. Consider it a four and a half. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light summer read.
This was a fun book, and held my interest. Wanted to give five stars but the ending was rushed and more detail to finish it up would have helped. Consider it a four and a half. I would recommend to anyone looking for a light summer read.
May 12, 2018
Lovely tale of sisters
Charming story of sisters and their ability to deal with their parents deaths, figuring out life and grow closer to each other. Quick and easy, and fun to revisit Italy through their eyes.
Charming story of sisters and their ability to deal with their parents deaths, figuring out life and grow closer to each other. Quick and easy, and fun to revisit Italy through their eyes.
July 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is about 3 sisters that celebrate their parents anniversary 5 years after their death by using an itinerary from their parents scrapbook. This book has mystery, romance and the bonding of sisters. Very good book.
July 13, 2018
Enjoyable and engaging
I enjoyed this book because it makes the three very different sisters come to life. All of the characters are interesting and the story is engaging. The descriptions of Italian cities and sites, and the sweet romance, add richness to this tale.
I enjoyed this book because it makes the three very different sisters come to life. All of the characters are interesting and the story is engaging. The descriptions of Italian cities and sites, and the sweet romance, add richness to this tale.
August 6, 2018
Italy
Absolutely loved this book. I got to remember all those places in Italy that I visited. The story was exciting and I could not wait to read it. I was sorry it ended. I wanted it to go on so I could find out about the sister Jill and what happened to her.
Absolutely loved this book. I got to remember all those places in Italy that I visited. The story was exciting and I could not wait to read it. I was sorry it ended. I wanted it to go on so I could find out about the sister Jill and what happened to her.
October 27, 2018
Sisters discovered their roots
Following the path of their dead parents honeymoon, the sisters are drawn together, but not for the best. They discover themselves and each other. Lovely trip through Italy.
Following the path of their dead parents honeymoon, the sisters are drawn together, but not for the best. They discover themselves and each other. Lovely trip through Italy.
April 3, 2019
I could see Italy!
The author painted such a detailed picture of the areas in her writing. Enjoyed the story line as we’ll and am excited to read the next book and see where it leads Jill, and hopefully Nico!
The author painted such a detailed picture of the areas in her writing. Enjoyed the story line as we’ll and am excited to read the next book and see where it leads Jill, and hopefully Nico!
November 5, 2019
Honeymoon in Italy
Enjoyed this book very much! I love novels about families, but this one made me remember when I was in Rome with my husband back in the 90's. We had a great time and just brought back all of the wonderful memories of our trip.
Enjoyed this book very much! I love novels about families, but this one made me remember when I was in Rome with my husband back in the 90's. We had a great time and just brought back all of the wonderful memories of our trip.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews