The Lemon Tree Hotel: A romantic and enchanting story about family, love and secrets

by Rosanna Ley

'Sun-soaked escapism' Best'A gorgeous, mouth-watering dream of a holiday read!' RedIn the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. For Chiara, her daughter Elene and her granddaughter Isabella, the running of their hotel is the driving force in their lives. One day, two unexpected guests check in. The first, Dante, is a face from Chiara's past, but what exactly happened between them all those years ago, Elene wonders. Meanwhile, Isabella is preoccupied with the second guest, a mysterious young man who seems to know a lot about the history of the old convent and the people who live there. Beneath the summer sun, Isabella is determined to find out his true intentions and discover the secret past of the Lemon Tree Hotel.Readers LOVE The Lemon Tree Hotel'Enchanting' 5* reader review'Delicious' 5* reader review'Beautiful' 5* reader review'Wonderful' 5* reader review'Heavenly!' 5* reader review

Genres: Fiction, Italy, Chick Lit, Romance, Audiobook, Travel, Beach Reads

454 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2019

About the author

Rosanna Ley has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 15 years. Affiliated to several colleges and universities in England, she also runs her own writing courses in the UK and abroad. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Italy and Spain and whilst not teaching or writing she mentors and appraises the work of new writers. Rosanna has had numerous articles and short stories published in UK magazines, and 12 novels of contemporary fiction published in the U.K, Germany, Greece and the U.S.A under a pseudonym. Her books are inspired by the culture and landscapes of Italy, Sicily and the Canary Islands and feature strong female voices from the past and present, along with an intense undercurrent of mystery and romance. Rosanna spends some time every year travelling around Europe looking for writing inspiration and more tranquil settings for writing holidays. She loves cliff walking and her favourite writing place is somewhere with a sea view. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives with her artist husband in a Victorian cottage in West Dorset by the sea.
(From the author's website)

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
In the village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have created a beautiful hotel from what was once a convent.The Lemon Tree Hotel ,on the Cinque Terre of the Italian Riveira, is an elegant place to stay. It is run by Chiara, her daughter Elene and gradndadughter Isabella. Chiara’s husband Alonzo is away most of the time with business interests in Pisa. So the running of the hotel is in the capable hands of the three women with the help of Elene’s husband Silvio. Elene feels she and Silvio are not valued or listened to enough by Chiara. Also Elene resents the relationship between her mother and her daughter when her relationship with Chira is so uneasy.
The book starts in 1968 when the Sixreen year old Chiara is faced with what seems an impossible choice between the Dante, the young man she loves and her familyand their expectations.
Forty years later ,when that old flame turns up to stay at the hotel it sets a whole train of events in motion. There is also the attraction Isabella finds for the young German guest Ferdinand. But what is his fascination with the artwork painted by Aunt Giovanna’s father and why is he so interested in the history of the convent, and meeting with and talking to Giovanna?
This is an entertaining read with a couple of plot twists. I felt one of them seemed contrived and only designed to paint one of the characters in the worst possible light to enable events to move forward. Wasn’t convinced by it. Another event is quite distressing not just the Mazzone family but for the whole town of Vernazza. Though characters in the story are fictional the event is based on a real event at Vernazza that occurred in 2011. The way it is written it has the ring of authenticity.
Overall this was a good that kept kept my interest. It features stunning setting well conveyed and characters that mostly came across as real and believable, with the one exception mentioned earlier. A pleasant place to spend some time. I am sure it will appeal to many readers of women’s fiction.

[Lisa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the luscious Lemon Tree Hotel - an intoxicating story with some mouth-watering descriptions, not only of the local olives and food but also of the place itself. I was transported right there in this novel and wow what a novel indeed!

I can sometimes find multi-generation books, or books that flip between timelines, not always enjoyable but this one flowed so well I had no issues at all and their stories were intertwined perfectly.

This book was superb, my heart truly ached for Chiara and her story in particular. Her life could have been so very different, but then we wouldn't have met her formidable daughter Elene and caring granddaughter Isabella.

If I found fault with this book I would be picking unnecessarily - beautiful writing that did justice to a soaring story that I lost myself in. So often I can be disappointed with an ending but this was just perfect and left me feeling more than satisfied!

My many thanks to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance novel set in VERNAZZA, Cinque Terre



4.5*
Need a bit of sultry escapism right now? If you have already come across Rosanna Ley’s novels you will know that she is the Queen of literary wanderlust writing. We featured her novel The Little Theatre By the Sea as our first ever #TFBookClub choice, back in 2017, and have always had a fondness for her brilliant portrayal of setting.

In The Lemon Tree Hotel the reader meets three generations of women in one family. Grandmother Chiara, daughter Elene and granddaughter Isabella (Bella). Together they run the former convent, which they have spectacularly renovated to create an oasis of calm and beauty for the guests who pass through their doors.

Each woman has her own function and in the novel, each is dealing with personal issues. A former lover of Chiara arrives in the hotel, without warning – theirs was truly an unrequited love. His presence puts into sharp relief the problems in Chiara’s marriage to Alonzo. Coupled with a couple of discoveries about Alonzo’s business operations, she now has to decide where her future lies.

Young Isabella has caught the eye of Ferdinand Bauer, a German architect who has checked in. He clearly has an agenda, in addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery. She is determined to find out what his quest might be. Remember that Italy was occupied by the Germans during WW2 and she senses there may be history that underpins her suspicions.

Elene is the chef at the hotel and seems quite embittered, compared with her mother and daughter, stuck in between two more out-going and sunshine-radiating personalities. The other two are life’s radiators and she appears to be one of life’s drains.

The book is firmly set in 2011 and beautifully brings to life this colourful and fabulous part of the world. Walk with the characters through the olive groves, smell the lemons, enjoy Bisto Kid moments, as wonderfully described and flavourful foods waft off the pages (OK, OK, I am showing my age – see left – I totally identify with Chiara 😉 ). The author mentions places to eat and things to see and it is wonderful to experience the location through this author’s eyes.

At a time when escapism is a balm to the soul then Rosanna Ley’s books totally fit the bill for some literary wanderlust. Enjoy.

[-Vilma- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nors tai ir romanas, bet keliaujantiems po Cinque Terre Italijoje ir ypač Vernazza miestelį tiesiog būtina ją perskaityti. Labai gražiai ir vaizdžiai aprašytos vietovės, žmonių kasdienybė, miesteliai ir pakrantės. Ką tik iš ten grįžau, tai buvo nerealu skaityti apie vietas, po kurias vaikščiojau ir į kurias žiūrėjau 😍

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit the locations in the novel

Rosanna Ley’s words open up such wonderful locations and this time we’re off to the beautiful village of Vernazza. Right on the coast of the Italian Riviera and the setting of a gorgeous hotel to boot. A real life gorgeous village tucked away that you might not notice otherwise, but when Rosanna Ley guides you there, adds secrets, intrigue and mystery, then you will definately want to book that visit!

And how much intrigue and mystery can one place have? Lots as it turns out. The Lemon Tree Hotel is the home and life of four women. Chiara runs the hotel and we find out that she choose to stay here with her family and family business when she was very young The hotel used to be a convent so there’s a lot of history and heritage around it. Chiara’s daughter Elene is the chef and Isabella, the granddaughter and the front desk or ‘face’ of the hotel. It’s a real family affair as Aunt Giovanna also lives on the site as she has done for some time. She’s lived through the German occupation and has some stories to tell.

When two guests arrive at the hotel, stories and baggage come with them (and not just the ones you can easily unpack and put away). Guests unsettle the still waters and bristle the trees of the nearby vineyards and orchards. These guests have a profound effect on both the hotel and its owners.

The rest is best discovered for yourself as it’s a winding story that gradually unravels to reveal secrets in its grasp. The novel is quite slow moving but that suits the narrative well and represents the sleepy, rural village setting well. I swear I could smell the aroma of the lemons and olives outside and then once back at the hotel aaah! the fragrances of those dishes Elene cooks up in the kitchen.

I felt as if stepping into Venazza and the lives of these characters was like taking a step back in time. There’s a sense that time has forgotten this place, the community, the life style and way of doing things and it was lovely to experience all this. Tourism is also taking place here and it seems to be the perfect place where past and present mix. That’s until it clashes within families that is.

A wonderfully evocative weaving tale that transports you to Italy!

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lemon Tree Hotel by Rosanna Ley has a beautiful cover to match the stunning set for this new book. Set on the Italian Rivera in the Cinque Terre region, the author captures a period of time in one families life when great changes are afoot. Things have remained the same for many years but discord is stirring and long held feelings and opinions slowly begin to simmer to the surface. The past is now having a bracing impact on the present and also on which direction the future may take. It's a very character driven story, yes there are glorious and wonderful descriptions of the hotel and the surrounding areas which do really help to set the scene and aid us in getting to know the characters. But this is a slow read with the main events only really happening towards the end which just felt that little bit too late for me.

The story follows one family in which a trio of women each play very important and varied roles. They are bound by family relationships and the three generations have lots in common but they are also poles apart in many other ways each hiding secrets and viewpoints which when events take hold have nothing else to do but come to the surface. At times I found it challenging to keep track of the three main female characters. Chiara is the grandmother, her daughter Elene is a chef in the hotel kitchen and this is her domain. Her own daughter Isabella runs the front of house. Sometimes I was confusing who was who and what exactly was going on with their own story but I knew everything would ultimately combine to bring all the various strands together.

I found the book hard going at times as there was nothing really happening. I think an event or some earth shattering secret needed to be brought into the open around the halfway point to keep me engaged and reading on. I am glad I did persist with this read but it wouldn’t be my favourite of Rosanna Ley's. The love Chiara has for the hotel established by her parents is evident. She knows every nook and cranny and she welcomes the guests with open arms and sees no problems with the way it is being run. It has been the same for so many years and there is no reason to change things which have worked perfectly fine. The hotel has always been a retreat, a shelter and a spiritual haven right from the times the nuns once occupied the building as a convent. As more than one stranger arrives will the façade of comfort and happiness be shattered forever?

Elene is unhappy and feels she is never listened to. She enjoys her role as chef but wants a bigger say in what is going on. Times are a changing on the outside and with the world in general and she feels the same should occur with the hotel. Moving with the more modern times is the way to go but will she ever be listened to? Her unhappiness also stems from childhood and that has carried on right through her marriage to Silvo and the subsequent birth of Isabella. It's not that she is unhappy with her husband and daughter, it's more the relationship she has with her own mother. I really couldn't warm to Elene at all, she just seemed so grumpy and selfish and although she was a grown adult in my mind at times she acted like a child.

In her own mind she seemed beholden to her mother when I'm not sure that was always the case. I felt she was looking for sympathy and truly if she wasn't that happy shouldn't she have just admitted how she was feeling and gotten everything out in the open? She was disgruntled and very unhappy with her life but she was the one with the power to change it. She feels a chasm between herself and her mother but is it one of her own creation? She believes that she is made to feel dispensable and that if she wasn't there then things would continue to run as smoothly as normal. There was a certain action undertaken by Elene that I thought was sneaky and underhand and I desperately wished she hadn't done it as I think it would have come to light in a more smoother way. Clearly she needed to air her grievances but she had she the courage to do so in a befitting manner.

As for Isabella she was young and independent with a good business brain on her shoulders. So when a German guest arrives and starts acting suspicious her interest is aroused. As she grows closer to Ferdinand, he still remains a closed book and his actions in and around the hotel only increase her worries. Just what is he up to and what has brought him to the hotel? This aspect of the overall story I would love to have seen developed more as it became clear the past was making itself known in the present. I really love historical fiction and Elene's story really brought this element into the book but it all just seemed to rushed. I could see where this aspect of the plot was going and how important it was was in seeking resolution, acceptance and forgiveness but I thought it needed fleshing out even more. As we neared the end of the story as events took a surprising turn I wondered would everything work out or would it just all fall to pieces?

There was never a lot of interaction between the three women all at once, it was more like three separate stories running alongside each other that would then converge at a time of disaster, worry and danger. Chiara out of the three was my favourite and from fairly on the reader could see that a decision she made or rather one that was really forced upon her had a deep impact on her life. She sacrificed a deep love for the sake of her family and the hotel and now her marriage to Alonzo although long lasting is not the passion she dreams of. He is always absent from the hotel away in a big city and he remained very much on the outskirts of the story until Chiara had to face up to her situation and some confrontations ensued. Dante was the man for her but circumstances and opinions did not allow this relationship to bear fruit. This had always remained at the back of her mind and haunted her to a great extent. But without her marriage to Alonzo would she have had Elene and therefore Isabella in her life? She is grateful for her daughter and granddaughter but when Dante reappears at the hotel after an absence of decades, will the love for him which has been kept dormant for so long come erupting to the surface and if this does happen how can she deal with it?

I could see how torn Chiara was as she battled with emotions and desires that she had long tried to suppress but I felt as we got to know the intricacies of her family situation that maybe she did deserve a chance at happiness after so many years of just going through the motions. I didn't judge her for any of her thoughts or actions at any point in the story. I just wanted her to follow her heart and reach the point of acceptance and happiness. She experiences an emotional whirlwind and goes back and forth over what she should do. It was interesting to see someone go through such a major life changing decision as it wasn't just herself she had to think about. But for too long her marriage had seemed like a business arrangement with little or no mutual respect. Should someone have to exist in their life like that when a different form of happiness could be out there for the taking?

The Lemon Tree Hotel was a good read if a little slow in places with some more action needed much further on than when it occurred. New readers to Rosanna Ley will enjoy it but I'm not sure it will deeply satisfy long-term fans. I am glad I persisted with it in order to see the eventual outcome for the three women involved and I look forward to what future stories Rosanna Ley will bring us

[Diana Kønig · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be an ‘easy light’ read of the chick lit variety but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s a family saga spanning three generations of strong Italian women. It’s a complicated mix of so much emotion, love and heartbreak. A must read if you love family sagas.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so fast, it was that good! Back in June when I read it, I was in a reeeeeeeeeally annoying reading slump, but this book got me out of it!
It's a very good story, I loved the characters, and it's so easy to read. Honestly, I cannot recommend reading this enough, I loved it so much!

[Amy Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives the perfect summer romance vibe at the beginning. But omg! So much happens with every single character I don’t even know where to begin! I absolutely adore Isabella and Chiara and towards the end I grew a liking for Elene too.
This is not just a boy meets girl romance, it is drama filled and action packed with chaos and more chaos😂

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and loved all books by Rosanna Ley, unfortunately not this one. I found the story boring and it did not go anywhere, even the ending fell flat. Sorry but was not the author’s best effort.

[Angela Petch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a setting that combines “rugged mountains, romantic bays and turquoise seas with colourful villages, terraces of vineyards, olive groves, and lemon trees clinging to the hills and shimmering in the sun.” Add four strong female characters: grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, and surrogate aunt each with a fascinating story. Throw in generous pinches of scrumptious Ligurian food and you have another delicious Ley book. There are males too... but I found the females more engaging.
I particularly love the depth and detail of Rosanna Ley’s descriptions: “the colours of Vernazza shimmered softly like unpolished jewels against the silvery-grey sky and the sea.” But I also admire the way she layers her stories. There is always a cliff hanger, always a reason to turn the next page to find out what is going to happen next. And there is always a surprise. I loved the setting of the hotel – “a greedy child”, the complex character of Elene, the daughter and cook, who, in one of her moments of anger and resentment, “took hold of her kitchen knife and sliced it neatly through an innocent glistening onion.” She is a woman “who wore the armour of her kitchen whites to hide her vulnerability and her fears.” Such clever lines that always say more than the words. How refreshing too to have a love story with a couple of the third age. Chiara and Dante are such an interesting pair. (No spoilers). Will they? Won’t they?
I love Italy and live in this beautiful, complicated country for six months each year, and the author has captured the alleyways and the “shadowy pink buildings whose paint was peeling to reveal the original underbelly of the stone beneath”, like a true postcard of Italy.
There is intrigue, history, love, war and some peace too. I enjoyed it all and look forward to the next Rosanna Ley book. Thank you.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put you slap bang in the heart of an Italian holiday with friends that you have known all your life. This book made me feel like the sun was beating down on me, the food made my mouth water, there were plenty of secrets and a gritty storyline to go with it to keep you gripped and entertained all the way through. A great read in my opinion.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lemon Tree Hotel is such a great novel. It's well researched, has complex characters and an interesting plot. The author writes great descriptions, which makes you feel like you're there and I would love to try some of Elena's cooking.

[Claire mcmanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again rosanna ley hasn't written a wonderful book I wanted to go where it was written I felt like I was there absolutely the best

[Cliona Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

[Brenda Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I wanted to find out what was happening next at every page. I now what to plan a trip to Vernazza.

[Sara Pauff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel has so much packed into it, it could have been three books instead of one. A mystery over a stolen painting and an illegitimate child during WWII, a tragic mudslide, a hotel in jeopardy, a crumbling marriage and three different love stories, all set in the beautiful Cinque Terre region of Italy. It was a little too much plot, in my opinion. But I loved the author’s descriptions of northern Italy, the culture, landscape and the people. The sense of place is strong, so northern Italy almost becomes another character in the novel. It made me want to visit, hike the hills of the Cinque Terre and taste all the delicious pastries, breads, pasta and wine.

[Certified Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lemon Tree Hotel is the eighth and latest novel to come from British author, Rosanna Ley. Her previous novels have been set in the sunny, warm climates of the Mediterranean, and The Lemon Tree Hotel is no exception. From the first page, I felt like I was holidaying in Venazza, Italy, one of the five villages of Cinque Terre that boasts a picturesque port. Ley beautifully describes the scene, particularly the terrain and the traditional food of the area. There was a strong sense that life in Venazza was like taking a step back in time. Many of the old ways were adhered to and the people were trying to keep a sense of history throughout their village. In contrast, some people also embraced tourism to keep the economy alive. This is the situation that the three female protagonists find themselves facing; Chiara, Elene and Isabelle. While a young Chiara sets the scene in the first chapter during the 60s, the remainder of the women’s story is set in the not too distant past of 2011, voicing their story in the first person through alternating chapters. Despite my preference for fiction to be written in the first person, I felt like I grew to know the characters intimately over time.

Chiara is the matriarch of the family unit. In her teenage years, Chiara met the love of her life but like any good romance, it wasn’t meant to be. Her parents were the owners of The Lemon Tree Hotel and its responsibilities were passed onto Chiara with the death of her parents. Now in her twilight years, Chiara has been married for over thirty five years to Alonzo. Alonzo and Chiara live separate, independent lives that their daughter, Elene, is unaware of. When her first love comes back to Venazza, Chiara’s world is turned upside down. She is forced to question the choices she mas made in both her relationships and her hotel.

Elene was the most complex female of the three as she struggles to be close to the people she loves. Elene isn’t close to either her daughter and mother and she appeared to be jealous of the relationship between them, which I thought was quite sad. Elene should have been proud of the strong relationship that had grown over the years. She also had difficulty coming to accept her mother’s choices and secrets, often acting like a teenager, so there were many times I wanted to give her a piece of my mind. Elene’s husband is a good man with a beautiful soul, Silvio, but Elene can’t appreciate it as she can’t see it. With his logical, grounded personality, Silvio balances out Elene. He truly loves his wife, warts and all. It is only through Elene’s cooking in her role as chef for the The Lemon Tree Hotel that she feels she has control over her life. I appreciated that Elene grew as a person and finally felt how much she was loved by those dearest in her life.

Isabelle is an independent young woman who is the opposite of her mother. She knows that she is loved and valued by her family, feeling closest to her father and grandmother. Using this love and her sense of pride, Isabelle devotes herself to the legacy of The Lemon Tree Hotel. Isabelle is a people person and as a result works at the front of the hotel. She has grand plans for the hotel, just like her grandmother, but both are unable to move forward with their plans as Elene is against modernisation. Isabelle has her chance of true love when a mysterious guest, Ferdinand appears. All is not as it appears though and it will take a natural disaster for the truth is revealed.

With themes of Italy, love, the past, food, second chances and natural disasters, The Lemon Tree Hotel is the perfect staycation.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This not one of those lighter books of this genre, and has a lot more packed into it than I expected. After finishing the book, the first thing that I could think of was the fact that it would have worked better as three separate books. A trilogy, one for each of the women that we have the privilege of following around and listening to the thoughts of. 

There is a lot happening at the Lemon Tree hotel. It was once a convent that the current owners' family took up in an effort to preserve it and also to build a business. There are three generations of the family who are living together under one roof.

We have the grandmother, Chiara. She has a past which seems to have come calling and threatens to change her present. 
Her daughter Elene who is insecure about her life and position as co-owner of the hotel and very strangely behaved in the first half but the second knocks some sense into her.
Lastly, we have the granddaughter Isabella who currently runs the day-to-day things in the hotel and she is very curious about their latest guest.
Now, each of their problems is pretty emotionally heavy and are independent of the other's issues. This had me jumping from one person to another without actually becoming fully invested in any of their lives. The love they feel for their home and the role they play in society is clear enough but even their resolutions did not satisfy me because of the aforementioned reason.

The book paints a very interesting picture of the small town, how the war changed it and how economies are codependent. I liked the read but would have loved it if I 'felt' more individually

This was an ARC I received thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review is completely based on my own reading experience. .

[Pippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is going to be difficult to rate because I have very mixed feelings about this book. I have read all RL’s books to date and would heartily recommend the first few but my enthusiasm began to fade with “The Saffron Trail”. I loved the cultural, social and geographical aspects of the story but did not warm to the characters. Unfortunately matters deteriorated further with “My Mother’s Secret” after numerous attempts spread over several weeks I finally gave up at about page 150, nothing had happened and I could not face another 400 or so pages. I had thought it would be my last by this author but when this one was offered at £0.99 I decided I would give it a chance.

It certainly began much better in as much as I read the first 150 pages on the same day, but as the book went on, my opinion of it faltered. Chiara is 59, her granddaughter Isabella is 20 so her daughter Elene must be about 40 but behaves as though she is 14. I found her thoroughly nauseating, I wanted to pick her up and shake some sense into her, and her immaturity and selfishness spoiled my enjoyment of the book.

I did however like Chiara’s story rather more, even if she is too dim to search the internet for “gelato” (to say more would be a spoiler) and in some ways I feel the author treats the reader as not particularly bright but I suppose it was still an okay read.

If you have not been to Italy you really should, I have been many times and it is wonderful, the scenery, the history, the people and the food.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad this is finished - I read 40% and was tempted to ditch it, but skim read a chapter or two and then got back into the story. The style of writing was so frustrating, although it did get better in the next part of the book with much more dialogue. There were so many instances in the first chapters where a character would ask another a question and the answer would only come after multiple descriptive paragraphs, so I’d have to go back and find out what question they were responding to! I think it could’ve been much better edited and there were lots of parts that could’ve been cut altogether. Rosanna Ley does describe food and places extremely well, so that you feel you’re almost there, it’s just that it could be tighter.

This is a summer holiday type of book, but worked to help me get back into reading after finding concentrating on books difficult during this time of social isolation. It has partly done the trick because it’s left me yearning to read a better quality book! Sorry! Rude but truthful.

19/5/20

[Jane Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosanna is one of my favourite authors so The Lemon Tree Hotel was always going to be a pleasure. The story wraps itself around the lives of four Italian women; a grandmother, mother, daughter and close family friend, and although there are secrets and love and a few surprises along the way, it is the bonds that unite – and divide – them, which give the story its impetus.

The relationships between the women in The Lemon Tree Hotel are real, not saccharine in any way. The issues that arise within families, the conflicting loyalties, the misunderstandings but overall the love, whether easily expressed or not. All these and more play out between the generations as change creeps into the beautiful village of Vernazza.

The women stand centre stage across the generations and the skilful way their lives are played out is what keeps you reading to the end.

[Alison Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

#TheLemonTreeHotel #NetGalley This book was set in the stunning location of the Cinque Terra and the descriptions of the hotel left me wanting to visit!! The story was about the relationships within and outside of Chiara's family and was an easy to read, lighthearted novel. For me though, unfortunately, there were too many periods of nothing much happening that seemed to be replaced by long descriptive passages that were quite repetitious at times. I did find myself skim reading in parts to get back to the action. Overall an enjoyable story that, in my opinion, would have benefitted from being 100 pages shorter with more action to keep me totally gripped.

[Shekenah · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received an e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This novel explores the relationship between 3 women who run a hotel in Cinque Terra. The author does a great job of describing the scenery and it made me wish I was back in Italy. All of the women have distinctive personalities and it was interesting to explore their dynamics with each other as well as the other secondary characters in the book. I do think this could have been shorter. I was engaged throughout most of the book, but there were certain passages that I skimmed as they didn't serve to move the plot forward.

All in all, I liked this but it is not without its flaws.

[Robyn Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of 3 women (3generations) who live in Italy and run a hotel that was handed down from her father Chiara (the Nonna) Elene (her daughter) was the chef and Isabella (her daughter) was in reception. Told from each character’s perspective. A story of lost love and sacrifice . Oh and the “aunt” Giovanna had a secret too.
Easy predictable story to read

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish the book. Well-written but a bit of a soap opera.

[Anabelle ㅤᵕ̈ㅤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vibes? 5 stars. The writing? 4 stars. The story line? 2 stars. So it’s a three

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lemon Tree Hotel has been in the family for years, but life may be about to change.

I am such a fan of Rosanna Ley’s books that I approached The Lemon Tree Hotel with some anxiety in case it didn’t quite match up to the fantastic writing I’ve come to expect, but I needn’t have worried; The Lemon Tree Hotel is absolutely wonderful. My only issue is that I’m not sure how to do it justice in my review.

Rosanna Ley’s meticulous prose evokes such an intense feeling of place, of people and of emotion that I didn’t feel as if I were reading a book so much as experiencing the events for myself. I found myself in the dilemma of not wanting the book to end but equally desperate to know what happened next. The plot is divine and positively sizzles with longing, self deception and family ties. Revolving predominantly around the mother Chiara, daughter Elena and granddaughter Isabella, there is a natural flow that interlocks their stories into a gorgeously satisfying narrative and there are some wonderful surprises along the way. I found the story completely compelling and transfixing and I loved the touches of Italian language and history that gave added depth and colour.

I so wanted each of the three women, even the prickly Elena, to have a happy outcome because I was made to care about them. Chiara in particular resonated with me, possibly as she is my age, and she almost broke my heart as she let the greatest love of her life slip by. And that is what is so emotional in The Lemon Tree Hotel. Rosanna Ley writes with a maturity of understanding of what it is to be a woman, to make personal sacrifices and to create a marriage and a business. There’s depth, warmth and all consuming storytelling that held me captivated so that I felt immersed in life at the Lemon Tree hotel. That isn’t to say that the men in the story are incidental. All of them from the vile Alonzo, through the enigmatic Ferdinand to the divine Dante add texture as they support or undermine the women in the story.

Equally enchanting a character is the Lemon Tree hotel itself. I wanted to be there every moment I was reading because I was fully transported to the Vernazza area by the author’s evocative use of the senses. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has made me as hungry as the luscious descriptions of Elena’s food did here. The Lemon Tree Hotel is not just a story to entertain, but it is a travelogue, a cookery book and a beautifully written sensory experience. Rosanna Ley’s descriptive prose is just gorgeous.

The Lemon Tree Hotel has everything I want in a book and more. It touched me, it involved me emotionally and it entertained me so that I feel enriched by the experience of reading it. Far from not living up to my expectations of her writing, Rosanna Ley has managed to surpass them. I absolutely adored The Lemon Tree Hotel and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description
A story about love, family secrets, and a little piece of heaven . . . In the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. For Chiara, her daughter Elene and her granddaughter Isabella, the running of their hotel is the driving force in their lives. One day, two unexpected guests check in. The first, Dante, is a face from Chiara's past, but what exactly happened between them all those years ago, Elene wonders. Meanwhile, Isabella is preoccupied with the second guest, a mysterious young man who seems to know a lot about the history of the old convent and the people who live there. Isabella is determined to find out his true intentions and discover the secret past of the Lemon Tree Hotel.

MY REVIEW:
Wow, the description of Cinque Terre was right on point. The Lemon Tree Hotel is a story about a family and its secrets. The family transform an old convent into a stunning hotel. The characters are well written and obviously the description of the area is the most appealing to me. This was a light, easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the novel. It definitely left me wanting to visit Cinque Terre again.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. One thing I want to mention is that usually you do not see a review on the cover. For me, it was beautifully done and definitely grabbed my attention.