It Takes a Villa

Calculated Risk, Book 1

De: Kilby Blades

Narrado por: Zuzu Robinson

For the reasonable price of $1, Natalie Malone just bought herself an abandoned villa on the Amalfi Coast. With a detailed spreadsheet and an ancient key, she's arrived in Italy ready to renovate—and with only six months to do it. Which seemed reasonable until architect Pietro Indelicato began critically watching her every move . . .

From the sweeping ocean views to the scent of the lemon trees, there's nothing Pietro loves more than his hometown. And after seeing too many botched jobs and garish design choices, he's done watching from the sidelines. As far as he's concerned, Natalie should quit before the project drains her entire bank account and her ridiculously sunny optimism.

With Natalie determined to move forward, the gorgeous architect reluctantly agrees to pitch in, giving her a real chance to succeed. But when the fine print on Natalie's contract is brought to light, she might have no choice but to leave her dream, and Pietro, behind.

Contains mature themes.

©2022 Kilby Blades (P)2022 Tantor

Nice story. Awful narrator.

While I liked the story, I had to put the book on 2x speed to be able to endure the narrator.

potential

This story has great potential, but it's not quite there. Most of my problem with it was the narrator. The narration was stilted and flat with slow downs and weird inflections.

Read the digital or paperback version, Avoid the audiobook.

I would have probably enjoyed this book better had I not read it via audiobook first. I did not enjoy the narrator’s delivery. Their reading was staccato, almost robotic. I had to play it at 2x speed so that the sentences would flow better.

The story and characters would have received four stars but the narrator pulled it down for me.

Charming, slow burn

Who wouldn’t love to have their own Italian villa? This is a charming story about going for what you want, living in the moment and enjoying each day as it comes. The romance is a smoldering slow burn but so fitting for the story. I loved all the characters and especially the setting.

Expected to enjoy

Started out good, but had to devolve into sex scenes. I stopped listening about 1/2 way through.

Falling Inn Love but in Italy

I can't be the only person who was mildly obsessed with the Netflix movie, FALLING INN LOVE, right? IT TAKES A VILLA is reminiscent of that movie in the best way. This is a sweet, heartwarming, and feel-good romance. Zuzu is a new to me narrator and I enjoyed her narration. While listening to this, you're transported to the Amalfi Coast, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Now I want to go to Italy again!

I enjoyed this book by Kilby Blades. The characters were great and made you want to dig in deeper to understand them. There was also a strong connection with grandmothers for both characters that I felt heartwarming. I thought the story flowed well and left you in a happy place at the end. I did listen to the audio of this and I wasn’t in love with the narrators attempt on an Italian accent and lack of feeling at time but it didn’t take away from the story enough for me to dislike it completely.

Could have been better

I liked the plot and the characters. The premise had potential.
The narrator was terrible on the Italian accents but good on Natalie's part.
The author needs to pick their focus. It was too detailed in every area. The restoration details, the politics, the sex scenes all were in depth.
On the other hand, it took me a while to figure out if gram was the ex, the relationship and situation that set things in motion, how the benefactor worked into the plot.
I did finish it but there were times I was not sure.

Enjoyed the storyline.

Good performance; all characters had a singular distinction making it easy for the listener. Story line was interesting, held my attention and presentation made it easy to follow. However did fast forward, for my taste, past too descriptive romantic interludes.

Another Italian Romance

while I enjoy leisurely Italian novels. this one tried my patience. The graphic sex scenes are unnecessary to achieve a good story. When did readers become unimaginative to the extent that we need to be spoonfed such details? The narration was poor and the characters diminished by the voice that portrayed them.