The Italian Lakes Affair: A BRAND NEW escapist sun-drenched romantic read for 2026
About this audiobook
A glamorous escape. An irresistible attraction.
Amy’s life runs like clockwork – as personal assistant to a notoriously sharp-tongued celebrity food critic, she’s used to managing chaos without ever creating any of her own. But everything changes when she's sent to a prestigious Italian cookery school and meets Tad, the enigmatic and quietly brilliant head chef running the show.
As sparks fly in the kitchen, Amy finds herself drawn into a world far removed from the one she’s always known. But with her demanding boss determined to be the centre of attention – and possibly Tad’s too – Amy must decide if she’s ready to step out from behind the scenes and take a chance on love.
Set against a backdrop of shimmering lake views and old-world luxury, this is a story of forbidden love, personal reinvention, and the courage it takes to follow your heart.🥂🍾💖
Praise for Rachel Barnett:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'This is the perfect summer book!' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I loved this book. A great summer holiday read. Beautiful setting, interesting characters and a page-turning plot' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Literally couldn't put this book down... It was a really amazing read' Reader Review
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About the author
Rachel Barnett lives in beautiful rural Wiltshire, with her family and their two Labradors, affectionately known as Best Boy and Brat Boy. After a wonderful career as a primary school teacher (yes, it is as exhausting as everyone says!), and creating a little monster of her own, a chink of spare time saw her taking the leap into the unknown, fulfilling a lifelong desire to write a novel. Rachel writes seasonal escapist women’s fiction, combining exceptional ‘wish you were here’ locations with more than a touch of romantic drama for her main characters, and always with a lively group of supporting characters busy with their own escapades to resolve – after all, everyone deserves a happy ending.
