Book Review – For Love and Italian by Liza Malloy

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Happy Lovelies and Happy Monday! I hope you all had an amazing weekend. Today, I’ll be sharing my review for this fun and steamy romance by Liza Malloy. FOR LOVE AND ITALIAN had me swooning and the sexy moments are super hot! I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it’s a lovely summer romance book.

Be sure to keep reading after my review cause I have a fun author interview and a juicy exclusive excerpt from the book.

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aboutbook

Published: May 13, 2019

Publisher: Teal Street Publishing

Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance

Pages: Kindle 251

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AMAZON US

synopsis

Undergrad Bridget is no stranger to romantic advances from men. But when she meets Owen, an instant friendship forms, even though Owen happens to be Bridget’s Italian teacher. Neither of them intends to cross that line, but once they do, they can’t deny the passion and chemistry between them. Aware that their tryst is taboo, they keep their relationship clandestine. But like all juicy secrets, this one doesn’t stay hidden for long. And once it’s out, Owen and Bridget must decide what they’re willing to risk in the name of love.

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mythoughts

A Swoony, Fun, Steamy, and Titillating Romance

4halfhearts

4.25 rounded up to 4.5 hearts

This is such a fun, steamy, and titillating read! For Love and Italain by Liza Malloy had me delightfully enamored until the very end.

So swoony and cute! I love the premise of this book and really enjoyed the overall story. Even though the plot is quite predictable, there are a few lovely surprises that made me smile. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but I was hooked from the very beginning and pleasantly entertained with the characters, the adorably awkward interactions, the sinfully sexy scenes and all the heartfelt moments. Bridget and Owen are just so adorable together and I think the romance is absolutely wonderful and hot.

Bridget and Owen are fantastic characters. They’re both hard-working, smart, determined, talented, and likable. I enjoyed their friendship, their romance, and their swoony chemistry. I loved their playfulness with each other, their flirty conversations and all their intimate moments. The forbidden aspect of their relationship and romance gave me so many butterflies. They’re just so darn perfect together and had my heart melting!

A fun, lighthearted and steamy romance, For Love and Italian is sweet, romantic, and naughty in the best ways. I was entertained the entire time and was quite sad when it was over. Liza Malloy knows how to write addictive and satisfyingly charming romance stories that will surely give you plenty of swoons and feels. I definitely got plenty of those in this book and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Thanks Liza for taking the time to do this interview!

What was your inspiration for For Love and Italian? Umm…so in college I had a really cute Italian professor and he also happened to be a classmate in one of my graduate-level French courses. That, sadly, is where the similarities between my life and the story end, but it definitely made me wonder what if…

Describe this book in 3 words Sassy, steamy, and scintillating

Have you always loved writing? Yes! I finished writing my first full length book in middle school. I have lucid memories of crafting stories in my head even before that. I’d spend hours a day in my back yard, narrating my stories aloud as I flew towards the clouds on my swing.

What is your favorite part about being an author/writer? I’ve always had a vivid imagination and writing provides a socially acceptable outlet for daydreaming and acknowledging all the voices in my head.

Which authors have inspired your writing? Hmm…That’s a tough one. I’m a huge fan of Thomas Hardy, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Emily Brontë, but when my kids were little, I needed lighter reading. Sophie Kinsella’s books were the first to make me laugh out loud, which I’ll forever appreciate. I love everything I’ve read by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

If there was a zombie apocalypse and you could only take 3 books with you, which ones will you choose? Wuthering Heights, Beloved, and The Scarlet Letter. I could read those three over and over…although they’re so engrossing that I might not notice the zombies about to eat me.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? I’d love to be able to be invisible sometimes. It would be nice to not have to hide in the laundry room when I’m eating candy I don’t want to share with my kids

What is your favorite scene to write? I love writing the endings to my books. Sometimes, I know exactly how the story ends before I begin, but other times, the precise details of the conclusion don’t come to me until I’m a few chapters into the book.

If you could have any other job/profession other than being a writer, what would it be?I’m a practicing attorney in my free time now, but I think I’d enjoy teaching literature or creative writing. Any profession where people pay you to read books is pretty fantastic in my opinion.

Any advice for aspiring writers? Read, read, and read some more! Also, write! It’s okay if everything you write isn’t great; just keep writing.

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exclusiveexcerpt

Suddenly, the car veered to the side. I had no sooner ascertained that we were now pulled along the side of a random street, devoid of other traffic at this hour, when Owen shifted the car into park.

He unfastened his belt and turned to me in one fluid motion, his mouth crashing into mine before I could even register what was happening. My heart raced but my fidgeting hands calmed instantly. The heat from his tongue was a sharp contrast to the frigid night air, and the urgency with which he devoured my lips caused a startling visceral response zipping throughout my body like an electrical current.

His hands reached for my face as mine went for his arms. I struggled to stifle a satisfied groan as my fingers squeezed the firm flesh of his biceps, which were every bit as exquisite as I remembered. One of us unbuckled my belt, enabling my other arm to reach for his thigh. I was consumed with the need to feel more of him, even as I felt myself gasping for breath amidst the passionate kiss.

I could’ve stayed like that forever, but at the fleeting flash of light from a passing car, the moment ended as quickly as it had begun. Owen pulled back, thrusting his hands into his hair.

He muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t say anything. I was literally too breathless to speak.

After a minute, I tentatively reached my hand back to his thigh. Owen stiffened at my touch, then clasped my hand in his own. He squeezed it encouragingly, then gently placed it back on my own lap. He reached over and fastened my belt around me, lingering by my ear.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “We can’t.”

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abouttheauthor

Liza Malloy writes contemporary romance, new adult romance, women’s fiction, and fantasy romance. She’s a sucker for alpha males, bad boys, dimples, and muscles, and she can’t resist a man in uniform. Liza loves creating worlds where the heroine discovers her own strength and finds her Happily Ever After. When Liza isn’t reading or writing torrid love stories, she’s a practicing attorney. Her other passions include gummy bears, jelly beans, and the occasional marathon. She lives in the Midwest with her four daughters and her own Prince Charming. Sixty Days for Love and For Love and Italian are her first published novels. She has two more steamy romances slated for release in 2019.

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