They swayed unsteadily as they stood up from their wooden stools – this was far from their first drink of the evening – pushing their way through the throng of uniformed men, all yelling and singing and carousing. He seemed determined that this wedding should go ahead, as did Rafaella, and Philippa couldn’t understand why it was so important to them or why she felt that everyone was in on something apart from her.

It had been a huge investment, but Carina had convinced her father it would pay off in terms of brand awareness and sales. The soldiers – both dark-haired and handsome, with the muscular build of labourers turned military men – made their way up the hill towards their quarters. This was the perfect book for a rainy summer week as it took me on a lovely trip to the Amalfi coast in Italy. Alongside that though, there is the back story of Pippa, and the book even starts with a wartime murder.

But the conversation had left her unsatisfied, and she found herself wondering what Rafaella was alluding to. Georgio thinks he's devious and clever, but life is about to catch up with him big time in a way he least expects it to. She and Giorgio had grown up together and it seemed natural that their friendship would blossom into something more as they matured into adolescence, with the accompanying rush of hormones.

A certain small yet highly influential character says, ‘ No man is worth losing your self-respect…’ Indeed! Once again, it seemed that Rafaella had given her pronouncement on the subject and expected no further discussion. Then he ran too, and kept on running, and didn’t stop until he was far away from that dreadful moment. The continual references to designer labels have gone which means the reader is able to concentrate on the story. Really great modern day romance and plenty of action and suspense woven into this beautifully written book, set over dual timelines and narrated by women from two generations of Italian winemakers.

What on earth was Giorgio doing, leaving so abruptly less than a fortnight before they were due to be married? Friends since childhood, Carina and Giorgio are due to be married on the Amalfi Coast and have their wedding reception at Carinas family Villa, the Villa Amore, which has been on the family for generations.

The two of them had enjoyed an idyllic marriage, perfectly complementing one another on both a personal and professional level. It definitely feels like every character in the book has plenty of secrets, but the story flows well, and is a great summer read. Hopefully this wedding would sprinkle its romance on Philippa and Salvatore too, she thought, they certainly needed it. As the guests gather under the azure skies of the Amalfi coast, scandal and intrigue are waiting to be revealed, and one of the guests will do anything to hide the truth . Rafaella had been a beauty in her youth, and her sharp cheekbones and twinkling dark eyes meant she was still a striking woman.Philippa thought back to her own wedding day and how excited she’d been to marry Salvatore, how she’d wanted every detail to be perfect. I loved the Amalfi coast being the setting for the main part of the story and I could picture the characters and areas in my mind when reading. Mamma Mia meets Jackie Collins in a page-turning blockbuster – when a family gather together for a wedding on the Amalfi coast, it sets the scene for scandal, secrets and sizzle under an Italian sun. Italy had withdrawn its support for Germany, and the Allies had landed in Sicily before making their way to the mainland. Mother of the bride, Philippa is stunned by the arrival of a former lover, who could destroy her marriage.