Insieme Per Sempre (Together Forever)
A Scottish Teashop In Napoli by Jane Lambert is the most delightful contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
All the characters were wonderfully warm and welcoming. They wrapped around the reader as we received a virtual hug in a book.
The novel opens in Scotland but we soon travel to Naples as a character has a complete change of life following a public jilting.
Scotland represents the past. Naples equals a new beginning. The scenery was bright and sunny. The characters opened their homes and their hearts to a young Scottish woman.
Throughout the novel, the reader’s taste buds are tempted to delicious sounding food fayre. I was pleased to find the inclusion of recipes at the back of the book.
Characters bond over food. The food ‘speaks’ of love. “Whenever Lucy baked, she could feel her grandmother beside her.” Her Grandmother introduced Lucy to her love of baking which became her passion.
There is much grief within the novel as a young widow misses her husband. “Grief comes in waves.” Sometimes those waves were ripples, at other times it was a tidal wave. In a close community, the loss is felt by many. “It was irrational, but he couldn’t help but feel guilty for having been unable to save his friend.” Sometimes, despite our best efforts, people die. We must not feel guilty for what we cannot change.
A young boy aged six is without his father. Characters gather around to make his childhood special. The love shines through.
A slice of Scotland is delivered to Naples in the form of a teashop. The reader ‘experiences’ some of the traditions along with the characters.
A character makes a radical life change declaring “if not now, when?”
The reader sees the devastating effects of the Mafia. They will stop at nothing. Big hearted characters step in and up where they can.
We see the importance of choosing well. “We have a choice… Do we let the past control our future, or do we use it to make us stronger?” We all need to learn from the lessons of the past.
I adored A Scottish Teashop In Napoli. I ‘lived’ the action and really would like to know what happened next.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Radom Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
A Scottish Teashop in Napoli
A tender and funny novel that combines the best of Scottish and Italian culture with the joys of female friendship and a cast of characters reminiscent of Jenny Colgan and Sophie Kinsella.
When Lucy’s childhood sweetheart stands her up on their wedding day, leaving her alone on a plane eloping to the tropical location of his choosing, their dream – now feeling like just her dream – of their bairn filled future disappears in a heartbeat (or the time it takes for her to listen to the rambling drunken voicemail he left calling off the wedding).
In Naples, Elena is recently widowed and struggling to keep her husband’s family’s beloved and centuries old mozzarella factory afloat, whilst running her language school and bringing up their son. At risk of losing both businesses- and adding even more disruption to their life – she advertises a job and hopes for the best.
The stars seem to align and Elena and Lucy, each suffering from a very different sort of loss and loneliness, set about trying to lift the struggling business and each other.
A charming, tender and funny novel about the power of female friendships, the importance of letting go and the joys of eating pasta!
Purchase Links
https://bedfordsquarepublishers.co.uk/book/a-scottish-teashop-in-napoli
Author Bio –
Jane Lambert was brought up on the west coast of Scotland, studied Modern Languages at Stirling University, then taught English in Vienna. Her love affair with Italy began when she married an Italian chef from Naples. Her debut novel, THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL, was published by HarperCollins in 2018 and inspired by her rollercoaster transition from globe-trotting cabin crew to aspiring actor.
Social Media Links – [X twitter] @JaneLambert22 / Jane Lambert | Facebook [Insta] @janealexandralambert
