I’m so excited to officially announce my third book, A Match Made in Venice! It’s an opposites-attract romcom with enemies-to-friends-to-lovers vibes and a whole lot of Venice!
I had the idea for a romance with a glassmaker as the hero many, many years ago and I’m so pleased with how it came together as a winter-themed book, with Christmas window displays, a family Christmas dinner, New Year’s on the Piazza San Marco and then the Venice Carnevale and Valentine’s Day. Here are some things you’ll find in A Match Made in Venice:
Deirdre (Didi) York, visual merchandiser/ marketing extraordinaire. She does her job and she does it well. She loves her rather dysfunctional family more than anything, but has no patience for drama and certainly not frothy romance.
Arriving in the unbearably romantic city of Venice in December, she just wants Piero’s agreement to provide the centrepiece for next year’s Christmas window display – and then to get home asap. She’s not prepared for the things that Piero will bring into her life – first chaos, then love.
Piero Zanetti is in the biggest slump of his life after his astronomical success as a glass artist had unexpected psychological consequences. In Didi, he feels the beginnings of a way forward, although he definitely won’t sell out and work with a department store again. How can he get her to stay long enough to work out what’s going on inside him?
Murano glassmaking!
A traditional old glassmaker father who kind of steals the show…
Cosy winter nights in Venice.
And I have to say, this book has my favourite third act of anything I’ve ever written. Piero gets a lot of things wrong, but then, oh boy, he gets things right in the most hilarious way! I don’t usually plan the endings of my books (I plan up until the third act and then stop and think again) and when this came to me, I was so happy with it.
I’m also thrilled that I got to return to Venice (and take Didi and Piero back) in my fourth book, which is a kind of sequel to this, Didi’s sister Norah’s love story, so look out for hints of the next book!
Escape to the breath-taking beauty of Venice – The City of Love.
When pragmatic, sensible and resolutely single Deirdre York (Didi to her friends) is sent to Venice for work she is determined not to be taken in by the romantic clichés. Winter in the floating city may be breathtakingly beautiful, but she’s here with a clear purpose and will not let the magic of Venice distract her.
Piero Zanetti is the epitome of the handsome yet tortured artist. Heart-broken by the end of his love affair with a glamorous opera singer, he has lost his ability to work, and his inspiration has drained away, along with his zest for life.
But Didi needs Piero working – she has been tasked with commissioning him to do a glass centrepiece for a luxury department store Christmas display – some how Didi has to cheer Piero up or at least find him a new muse…
As Didi and Piero slowly become friends, and as Venice starts to melt Didi’s heart and gently nudge Piero out of the blues, something special begins to happen. Can Venice – the City of Love – work a Christmas miracle and help Didi and Piero to find their happiness at last…
Pre-order a Match Made in Venice here.
Leonie Mack 