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There are currently 33 member reviews
for The Little Italian Hotel
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Nancy M. (Hillsborough, CA)
Healing with Heartbroken Strangers
When I first started "The Little Italian Hotel" by Phaedra Patrick I was preparing myself for a 'same old, same old' plot, but looking for an Italian experience anyway. But the main character's generosity turned the story around, as well as the lives of three heartbroken strangers and herself.
Over the course of two weeks, each character chooses an activity that ends up providing true appreciation of the present moment and ultimately self discovery, all the while enjoying Italy's charming towns and countryside.
Of course there are unexpected twist and turns that kept me turning each page but left me satisfied with the outcome for each character's vacation.
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Mary C. (Plano, TX)
Italian Retreat
The Little Italian Hotel is the perfect book for a get away from the humdrum. I probably do not have a single drop of Italian blood in my body, but this tale of Ginny Splinter's trip to Italy to leave her troubles behind in England resonated deeply with me. Phaedra Patrick's descriptions of Italy and its culture will allow the reader to experience a whole new world. The Italian countryside, the food, and the people Ginny meets act as a balm to Ginny's soul. I wanted to know how this whole story will end for her and the strangers she invited to accompany her on this trip. We all have our flaws, as does our heroine, but this writer makes the reader eager to find out what constitutes happiness for Ginny and her friends---and maybe for the reader too.
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Patricia C. (Naples, FL)
The Healing of Broken Hearts
Our heroine is very good at giving advice about heartaches to others. However when her own heart breaks, she discovers the healing power of friendship even with people who were once strangers to her; and the healing power of spending three weeks in the Italian country side at a quaint and charming small hotel.
Ginny and the four strangers who accompany her on this trip find the beauty of nature, the beauty of art and eventually the beauty of friendship.
I do recommend "The Little Italian Hotel" for your summer reading and for book club discussions. Lots to think about in this book.
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Jean F. (Bradenton, FL)
Delightful tale of re-discovering oneself!
Are you ready for a short stay in picturesque Italy? The premise of Patrick's latest novel is a familiar one. Wife Ginny anticipates celebrating a big anniversary with her husband Adrian, but they are not on the same page. Adrian is interested in divorce and a break, and Ginny is eager for the trip she planned to Italy. She hosts a radio advice program and ends up inviting four strangers to be her travel guests.
Their hotel is somewhat tired, but the setting is charming. Ginny's companions are a motley crew, each wrapped tightly in grief. Nonetheless, they muddle along, try activities together, and mostly come to like each other. A new locale and different people offer a fresh perspective and even some hope for the future.
This is a perfect summer book. Take it to the beach or mountains, suspend belief, and go with the warmth and caring these unrelated individuals show each other. It's a quick, fun read! I'd rate it four and a half stars.
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Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)
Comfort Zones
I had reservations about this novel and almost did not finish it after I read the first few chapters, (I am not a "chick-lit" fan) but the further I read the more I warmed up to this novel and the wonderful characters in this story - each so different from the other. Each character had their own specialness and gift to give as well as the sadness they were experiencing in their lives at the time. The trip to Italy and their stay in the Splendido Hotal was such fun - certainly exactly the hotel I would have preferred as well, compared to the luxurious
Grand Hotel Castello Bella Vista up on the hilltop. And Nico - the Splendido Hotel's owner touched my heart - as he did with all the characters in this delightful story.
And Ginny - who "sponsored" this trip to Italy for these four winners of her Italian holiday found out that her own life needed "fixing" as well as her four traveling companions.
I believe that Ginny - in the midst of it all - learned that sometimes we have to turn around and view ourselves differently. We must gather the courage and desire to come out of our comfort zone when we suddenly realize that what we thought was our comfort zone may actually be holding us back from freeing ourselves and living our life to the fullest.
Just a good, feel-good story!
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Margaret K. (Seekonk, MA)
The Little Italian Hotel
In keeping with the author's previous works, this book is an easy read and a good story. Her characters are realistic and well developed and one can imagine oneself visiting this charming hotel in Italy. A wonderful read if you want something that causes no anxiety but is engaging and well written. I feel that Phaedra Patrick is one of those authors who is reliable but always interesting to those of us readers who, at times, just want something GOOD to read. Depending on the reading group could also be a good book for discussion.
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Karen R. (Columbus, OH)
Love found family book
4.5 I received this book from the wonderful book website, Bookbrowse, in exchange for an honest review. This book is about Ginny, a relationship/advise expert who has unknown problems in her own marriage. Ginny booked an expensive surprise vacation for her wedding anniversary. Ginny's husband is unhappy and unable to go,so Ginny invites four strangers with broken hearts to go on this vacation. This was a found family book. I love the families that you walk into as opposed to the families your are born into. I enjoyed getting to know everyone and why their heart was broken. Felt good after reading and highly recommend.
