Breakfast Book Review : Jenna Evans Welch with a Smoothie

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

If you need a lighthearted escape from the gloom and doom of the news cycle, not to mention the real world – this is your book. It’s all you’d want it to be; sweet, romantic, funny, with just enough “will they or won’t they end up together” tension to keep you interested, but never annoyed.

From the back cover:

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever so charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father – and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Three Things I Loved About Love and Gelato

1. The Setting: I could absolutely imagine myself in all the places that Lina visited from he countryside of Tuscany, to the cities of Florence and Rome. The way that  each place was described in intimate detail, the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes made it immersive and real. I could taste the simple pasta that Howard made for Lina and the chocolate hazelnut gelato that she shared with Ren. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. Someone take me to Italy, pronto! I scarfed down this book like a delicious meal. It would be the perfect choice for a plane ride, a rainy day inside, or a solo trip to the beach. You’ll want to read it all in one sitting.

2. Lina: I love Lina’s funny, self-deprecating voice. I found myself squirming at her discomfort as an awkward American surrounded by a gang of infinitely cooler international friends. I like that she was confident – in that she knew herself, but was also self reflective and willing to change her opinions and beliefs based on new information and perspectives. I think that’s the hallmark of real strength.

3. Howard: I don’t want to give too much away, but every girl/ woman/ female on this planet needs a Howard in her life.

And Now For Breakfast

I made a Chocolate Almond Smoothie for breakfast. I suppose gelato would have been more fitting, but since I don’t do dairy… I know, I know, what kind of fun would I be in Italy?! Seriously though, when I want chocolate ice cream for breakfast, which frankly, is most mornings, this is what I make!

Mariah’s Chocolate Almond Smoothie

1 Frozen Banana

1 tbsp Organic Cacao Powder

1 tsp Organic Cacao Nibs

1 tbsp Almond Butter

1 Medjool Date

1/3 cup Old Fashioned oats

1 Dash Cinammon

1 Cup Chocolate Almond Milk

Blend until Smooth and Creamy in the Vitamix, Garnish with Coconut  and a sprinkle of Cacao Nibs

SOOO Flippin’ good!

Hope You Enjoy the Smoothie and the Book!

I’ve never read anything by Jenna Evans Welch before, but I’ll definitely be trying her next novel, Love and Luck. I picked up Love and Gelato, because I was researching novels that I thought would be similar to mine. Apparently, it’s good form to include some examples of work that is similar to yours in your query letter to potential agents so they can see where your book would fit in the genre. The similarities between my novel and this book are to put it mildly, crazy. At first it freaked me out, but then I felt comforted knowing there is a BUON APPETITO for my book too!

XO,

Mariah

P.S. Cooper is sulking because he can’t have any smoothie. I share most things, but Niente cioccolato per cani!