Can the magic of the season keep them together beyond Christmas?Top 1 Amazon Bestseller in American Literature AnthologiesTop 3 Amazon Bestseller in Holiday FictionWhen Luciana Romano arrives in Hudson Springs, New York, her plan is to complete her restoration job at the museum so she can return home to her family right after Christmas. But a blizzard grounds all flights, and she finds herself … blizzard grounds all flights, and she finds herself stranded. The DiLorenzo family offers her a place to stay, and she accepts their hospitality. But the unexpected attraction between her and the quiet, good-looking son makes it hard to want to leave.
Jack DiLorenzo is stuck. Managing the family’s Italian café is not what he’d planned to do with his life, but his sense of duty won’t let him quit. When his grandmother invites a Portuguese woman to stay with them, Jack feels something he hasn’t felt for a long time: hope. He knows he shouldn’t get close to Luciana since she’s leaving as soon as the airport opens, but he can’t help himself.
Yet as the magic of the season begins to work on them, he wonders how he can let go of the woman who’s awakened his heart.
Books in the Romano Family series:
– Book 1- Hold Me At Twilight
– Book 2- Meet Me At Sunrise
– Book 3- Love Me At Sunset
– Book 4- Keep Me At Christmas
– Book 5- Kiss Me At Midnight (coming soon)
Previously published as part of the Destined for Love: Resorts collection:
— Matched by Design by Lindzee Armstrong
— Keep Me At Christmas by Lucinda Whitney
— Second Chance in Paradise by Jennifer Peel
— The Trust of a Billionaire by Michelle Pennington
— Marrying an Athlete by Anne-Marie Meyer
— Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex by Victorine E. Lieske
— If the Suit Fits by Sally Johnson
— Kings Crossed Lovers by Donna K. Weaver
more
This fantastic read centered around Luciana Romano and Jack DiLorenzo is a great addition to the Destined For Love Resorts series. I enjoyed reading their story and love how much they each care about their families. Luciana is in Hudson Springs, New York for a job. Jack and her meet at the DiLorenzo Bakery and Cafe. While they grow closer, from spending time together, how can they make a long distance relationship work? Is he willing to give Love a chance, after what Madison did to him? No spoilers, so grab this sweet read and be ready to fall in love.
Luciana Romano was just in NY to assist with the textile exhibit at a local museum when she met Jack DiLorenzo at his family’s Italian bakery. She thought with a job that made her travel all over for work she wouldn’t have time for love. But Jack and his wonderful mother and grandmother were determined to make her feel like family and make their way into her heart. Jack was the trifecta handsome, a gentleman, and an amazing cook. He’s also an accountant, which being one myself I could appreciate. Luciana’s job as a knit and textile was interesting and I’d never heard of a job like that before. She must see a lot of cool things and places. The descriptions of the foods Jack and his family made sounded so yummy. Jack, his mom, and Nonna, were pretty great taking in a stranger for Christmas and making her feel like family.
Holiday Magic
Taking place largely in New York rather than Portugal, two gentle souls are pulled together. Mary Jane Conlon provides her usual adept narration with careful pronunciations of Portuguese and Italian and New Yorkese. LOVED this–I’d been waiting for Luciana’s story =o]
Can a lonely baker discover the woman of his dreams in two weeks?!
4 and a bit stars
This squeaky clean, sweet, holiday romance started a little slow, but built to a really nice ending and was chock full of good eats and cozy Christmas traditions and family togetherness. The problems of dating and forming a romantic relationship across borders added some thoughtful drama and author Lucinda Whitney provided even more realism by not having either of the hardworking MCs just step aside from their work and family commitments in the name of romance. Jack keeps baking and snowplowing and shoveling, despite his desire to spend quality time with Portuguese visitor Luciana, and Luciana is diligent about devoting long hours to ensure her work is impeccable and completed during her two-week flying visit to Upstate New York.
Recommended if you like your romance with minor drama and lots of cozy as love builds from one magical moment together to the next.:-)
I read a complimentary advance copy of the first book in the set; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Keep Me at Christmas is such a sweet HEA about second chances and dreams realized. I love the details of the cultural differences and similarities. The characters are well rounded and personable and the storyline is adorable.
I received a free copy of this book and have chosen to give my honest opinion.
Story: 5 stars
A truly like-able couple whose similarities of family and culture help their romance along. Now they just need to overcome the obstacle of the Atlantic Ocean to be together 🙂
Not too much angst and lots of romantic moments. Add that to family gatherings, and you have a wonderful escape!
Narration: 4.5 stars
I love this narrator! Her Portuguese accents sound authentic, as do her Italian ones (granted I haven’t heard either, so take my opinion for what it’s worth). I’ve listened to 4 books narrated by her and never get tired of her voice!
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
A fantastic well written clean sweet enjoyable Christmas romance with amazing depth. This captivating storyline has me reading straight thru to their HEA. The characters are well developed, interesting and had amazing secondary characters really having the story come alive. I listened to this wonderful well narrated romance, I can’t wait to listen to more from the Romano family.
4.5 stars This is the latest Romano Family story. Luciana flies from Portugal to the small town of Hudson Springs, NY for work, and to get away from all the wedding planning for the upcoming weddings of two of her cousins. Single girls with no current romantic prospects can only take so much without getting depressed or feeling like they’re never going to meet their own special someone.
What is that saying about when you stop looking for something it finally turns up? Luckily for Luciana the driver from the airport knew of a good place for breakfast–DiLorenzo’s Italian Bakery and Café. This is where she meets Jack DiLorenzo–baker, cook, bookkeeper for the café, and all around great guy. Luciana starts eating lunch at the café everyday and soon she’s eating dinner with the DiLorenzo family almost every night. His mom and grandma remind Luciana of her grandma and aunts back in Portugal.
Luciana experiences her first snowfall while in Hudson Springs and spends Christmas with Jack and his family. She and Jack both realize they’re developing feelings for each other, but don’t think anything can come of it since they live on different continents. Can a super long-distance relationship work? One of them would have to move, how will they decide which one? No spoilers from me, you’ll have to read it to find out what happens.
The Romano family members seem to fall in love pretty quickly–8 days for one couple, a couple of weeks for another, and Luciana appears to be following the trend. I felt that their romance flowed naturally–they spent quite a bit of time together and got to know each other by talking about their families, etc. I really liked how much their families mean to each of them. Luciana and Jack are likeable and realistic characters–I mean who doesn’t love a man who can cook?! Don’t read this book if you’re hungry because the author gives yummy descriptions of the food and pastries Jack makes for Luciana. Jack’s grandma’s hot chocolate recipe sounds divine.
This is a fun read, and with the heat of summer coming the picture the author paints of a snow storm might cool you off. If only it worked that way. I love the Romano family and can’t wait to see whose story is next.
A sweet, joyful, uplifting story that made me smile the whole way through. Some really creative characters and beautifully written which seems to be the norm from this author. Enjoyed it so much!