Giovanna Tonioli is a successful stockbroker with a famous sports star boyfriend, but things aren’t as sweet as they seem. When life in the city of Bath goes from Vanilla to Rocky Road, she takes herself off to Italy for an ‘Eat Pray Love’ style tour of all things gelateria. What she doesn’t expect to find on her travels is one smooth, hot dollop of temptation that she just can’t shake.
How will her spiteful twin sister react when Giovanna returns to open a rival ice cream parlour? Will Natalia get her just desserts? Or will things become even stickier? All’s fair in love, war and ice cream. Isn’t it?
The Ice Cream Parlour by Isabella May Review
Never Judge a Book by its Cover!
Based on the title of this book by Isabella May, I had no clue that the story would start off so serious and dark. The fact that the cover art is a scoop full of pink ice cream didn’t hint at that at all.
I fought against my expectations and although I struggled at first to get into it, (this is why you never judge a book by its cover!) – but it didn’t take long at all to find myself completely enthralled by this story.
**“Books?” he scrunched his face up… “I’m in the throes of passion – admittedly on the less than idyllic waterlogged streets of Bath – with the most beautiful woman I have quite possibly ever laid eyes on… and she wants to talk about books.”**
If that line caught your attention – whether it’s the part about passion, the mention of books, or the May’s obvious humor – I’m certain this book is for you.
This is no ordinary contemporary fiction, believe me! The Ice Cream Parlour is filled with family feuds, handsome men, powerful women, trips to Italy, and of course ice cream flavours that will have you drooling over the pages!
But it’s when the thrilling sense of danger seeped in that I found myself racing through the book just so I could find out what happens to Giovanna Tonioli next.
**“You are a stunningly beautiful, wonderful, clever, funny and all-round incredible woman.”**
It’s with affirmations like these that I instantly fall in love with a character, and as I reached the end of the book I was even more certain of my admiration for Giovanna. She is a strong-willed, kind and adventurous woman, and her character growth was fantastic. I truly felt a connection with her.
May’s other characters were just as well written and I found myself properly hating the bad guys, as I’m sure was her intention when she wrote this mouthwatering story.
A little over halfway into the book there is mention of Kruger Rands from South Africa. As that’s my home country I had an even bigger love for this story and its author. It wasn’t the most cheerful of scenes, but it made me feel at home nevertheless.
There are also a few scenes with past life regressions and I’ve discovered that it’s a new favourite trope of mine.
I definitely plan on reading her three other books as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for her newest book, The Cake Fairies, releasing on paperback early in 2020!
ISBN: 978-109224-220-2
