Racing the Sun

From the very first line of the story….\”We\’ve all thought about how we\’re going to die\”, I was hooked. Karina Halle usually pulls me right in with her prologues, but this book started with chapter one. It still pulled me in, hook line and sinker. Beautiful location, a character (Amber) in a predicament and vivid descriptions of this location. Each time I read a book by this author, I always feel like the location is a character in itself. It is bright and honest and full of life and hope. Even in the darkest of hours. And now I want to visit the Amalfi coast! I first met Amber in Where Sea Meets Sky and was intrigued. She left our characters to continue her adventure in life. Of course she ends up in Italy to find the ultimate adventure: a broken family, broken home and a broken man, Derio Larosa. But she also has her own problems and needs to make money to return back to the states. Miss Halle takes us on the ultimate adventure of discovery, growth and acceptance of what your life has in store for you. You must remain open and wear your heart on your sleeve to allow the love to shine through. Derio was a broken man, but Amber was the American that was going to change it all. Even when she didn\’t have the backing of her family, she was strong and beautiful and made her own life where she wanted. And Derio? Can I take one of him for myself?? He needed to grow a lot and change and become the man he once was before tragedy hit. But when life give you lemons, sometimes you have to make limoncello and go for it! Two amazing characters with a supporting cast that brings you to the ultimate location for romance. This book had everything for a perfect beach read or even to brighten your day during the gloomy winter to spring months. The beauty, the hurt and the slow burn of a romance that was just itching to show itself from the very beginning. If your looking to be transported to Italy with a story of life and romance, pick this one up! *(Although I read this book awhile ago, I apparently didn\’t leave a review. But I recently just listened to the audio and was transported to a beautiful place and time and knew I had to leave a little love of a book that puts a bit of sunshine in my life when I needed it most. Thank you, Miss Halle.)*

I really enjoyed the first half but was disappointed with the direction it went in the last quarter of the book. I didn\’t see enough growth in the relationship and I also couldn\’t fully connect to it. Amber was a bit childish and ended up being selfish as well. Derio ended up making some strange and selfish decisions too, and it just didn\’t sit well with me. I wanted him to act more like an adult and take more responsibility, especially regarding his siblings. I really felt bad for them. Derio came across as a damaged and broody guy in the beginning, but he ended up being more the emotional type. I didn\’t think Amber and him were perfect for each other, and the fast forwarding a week or two a couple of times didn\’t help in me believing in their love as well. I do have to say that I loved Karina\’s writing style, and it really had a nice and steady flow. I love her books, but this one wasn\’t my favorite. It had a great premise and the setting was beautiful, but the direction and actions of the story and characters didn\’t impress me.

Karina Halle\’s descriptive prose is exquisite in Racing the Sun. Whether she\’s writing horror, dark thrillers, or beautiful romances in exotic distant lands, I know the journey will be extraordinary. Ms. Halle never fails to disappoint. She has taken us to Spain in Love, in English, New Zealand in Where Sea Meets Sky, and now Italy. I\’ve managed to fall in love with the culture, the scenery, and the characters, without having to leave my house. Having spent time as a kid living overseas, I always get that itch to travel when I\’m reading her books. Especially Racing the Sun, which is set in Capri Italy. I spent a few weeks in Italy as a teenager and I fell in love with the people as well as the history and gorgeous landscape. Racing the Sun transported me back to the country I visited over twenty years ago allowing me to fall in love all over again. I\’m constantly reminded in Karina\’s books that beautifully real characters can find love where ever and when ever. Love finds us, always. Racing the Sun takes a more somber route with Amber finding herself in Italy with no money to get home to California. Forced to find work she lands on the island of Capri. Upon entering the Larosa family home aptly called The House of Sad Lemons, Villa del Limoni Tristi, Amber finds herself quickly immersed in the lives of two young children and their older brother. Tragedy has befallen the Larosa children, all of them, are in limbo. Suffering from the anguish of losing their parents. Amber with all her bad habits, parental issues of her own, and fears of falling both literally and figuratively, is most definitely out of her element. Her degree in English has not prepared her for teaching the language to the young twins, but she\’s determined to try. With the job comes lots of rules, most surrounding the twins\’ older brother, the broody Desiderio. This is starting to sound like Beauty and the Beast. Oh my God, am I Belle? Is he an Italian Beast? Did I just stumble into the best scenario ever? Derio has given up everything to raise his twin siblings, Alfonso and Annabella. Drowning in grief, unable to move forward he just exists. I\’m sure many of us can relate to that sort of grief. You live day to day going through the motions wondering how you can go on without that someone. Lost, confused, afraid and you\’re positive no one understands. Derio has shut out the world. Until his leonessa (lion) appears. Amber is the light he needs. Together they help each other heal. Karina has this incredible talent in creating characters that are relatable, real, flawed. You find that no matter the circumstances you\’re rooting for them, desperate for them to find those happy endings. She doesn\’t make it easy though and I think that\’s what I appreciate the most in her writing. Amber and Derio face real life issues of raising a family while falling love. Trying to find themselves with and without each other. Overcoming their fears while having to conquer new obstacles. That test of faith and the test of true love. \”Sono ricco. You know what the means?\” I shake my head. \”It doesn\’t matter. It sounds beautiful.\” \”It means \’I am rich,\’\” he says. \”Because of you.\” Karina Halle is and will always be a favorite of mine. I\’m always honored to read one of her books. *A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I pre-ordered \’Racing the Sun\’ as a follow on after enjoying the \”Love in English/Love in Spanish books and I wasn\’t disappointed as this book was equally as charming. American Amber is 24 years old and travelling round Europe; nearing the end of her money she takes a job teaching English to 7 year old orphaned twins who have been left in the care of their older brother Derio. The setting for the story is beautiful Capri in Italy a place I have always aspired to retire to, if I had won the lotto of course. It took me back many years to my own visit to Sorrento and Capri, you almost felt you were there. This sweet love story meanders along and is most enjoyable in a quiet way and I do recommend it. I plumped for 4 stars only as my most important criteria for a 5 stars is a good epilogue and sorry but for me this epilogue was too short, and whilst it was a HEA I felt we could have looked a bit further into the future to see how things on the beautiful Capri worked out for Amber and Dario.

This story is amazing! I could not put my kindle down. I was drawn to the story as it was set on the Amalfi Coast and I have enjoyed a visit to the area. Based on the authors descriptions I am ready to revisit the places mentioned. It is the perfect setting for this story. The book is a beautiful romance and I could imagine it as a film. Cannot recommend this book enough. Its worth the more expensive price tag!

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