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The House in Amalfi

Review

The House in Amalfi

Lamour Harrington is a landscape architect living in Chicago. Devastated by the deaths of the two men she's loved --- her father Jon-Boy and her husband Alex --- she has put her life on hold, allowing herself no play. She spends time remembering and holds memories of her time in Italy as a child, which was a period of perfect happiness.

Lamour's best friend, Jammy, bears devastating news: the husband Lamour has mourned for two years was unfaithful. When he died, he had planned to divorce Lamour and marry another woman. After this revelation, Jammy and Lamour travel to Rome together. Lamour urgently needs to find the truth behind her father's mysterious death.

She finds that Rome has changed, with most of the people she knew gone. Yet she begins to experience joy once again, and when she reaches her childhood home in Amalfi, Lamour strolls through the neglected house and gardens and decides she has come home.

Lorenzo Pirata is not happy to see Lamour return. He has kept a secret all these years, and Lamour is a complication. He tells his spoiled son, Nico, not to befriend her. The defiant young man instantly makes a play for Lamour, and despite herself, she is charmed by him.

Lamour works on her house and garden, and spends time with both Nico and Lorenzo. Although she knows Lorenzo is her enemy, she can't help but enjoy his company --- until he informs her that the house is not hers, but his, and that she must leave and return to Chicago.

A few of the plot points didn't hold together for me (in particular, I felt that a late subplot involving Lorenzo's daughter was completely superfluous). I also found that a few complications were too easily solved. However, nothing could keep me from thoroughly enjoying this book, which has an intriguing mystery, a relatable main character, a sweet romance, incredibly funny scenes involving chickens and workmen mangling a delivery job, and yummy descriptions of Italy. I absolutely loved A HOUSE IN AMALFI and highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon([email protected]) on January 22, 2011

The House in Amalfi
by Elizabeth Adler

  • Publication Date: August 1, 2005
  • Genres: Fiction
  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • ISBN-10: 0312339631
  • ISBN-13: 9780312339630