Sophia Rose is back with a contemporary romance perfect for who love travel and royal elements to their reading. Come check out her thoughts on Not Another Roman Holiday by Marilyn Brant.
by Marilyn Brant
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
In the novella NOT ANOTHER ROMAN HOLIDAY, an American blogger meets a European Prince in Italy. She needs a story. He needs an escape from the paparazzi. Neither thought love would hit them in the eye like a grande pizza pie – but that's Rome for ya. (And, okay, it might also be amore.)______A modern, role-reversing twist on the classic film Roman Holiday by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Marilyn Brant!
American entertainment blogger and aspiring poet, Jenna Bradley, is spending the summer in Rome, visiting her grandparents and working remotely for the online magazine/ezine WORLD VIBE. She's assigned to write a feature on the latest Goodwill Tour of an Eastern European royal – handsome and wealthy, perhaps, but aloof and surely dull. Definitely not her type.
The night before the big meet and greet, however, she comes face to face with an incredibly attractive man who surprises her and quickly wins her over with his wittiness, depth, and charm. He couldn't be more different from the royal stiff she's supposed to interview...or could he?
On the eve of his 26th birthday, Prince Andrei of Saragovia has had a long day of official duties followed by a little too much Grappa and some unexpected paparazzi stalking him at his hotel. While making his escape, the Prince inadvertently crosses paths with a cute American named Jenna and her friends, and he finds himself caught up in an action-packed 36-hour spree through the Italian capital.
Adventurous, fun, and romantic, Andrei is given a birthday celebration he never would have imagined, and Jenna gets the scoop of a lifetime. But the clock is ticking... What if they could spend more than just a day and two nights together in Rome?
Sophia Rose’s Review
An unwelcome journalism assignment, an interrupted holiday in Italy, a mysterious gentleman left destitute, and entertainment blogger, Jenna, gets a 36 hour adventure of a lifetime. What fun that one of my long-time favorite authors, Marilyn Brant, puts some dazzle in the classic Roman Holiday, cinematic tale with a swoony gender swap at the heart of her story.
Jenna’s a ‘girl next door’ gal from the Midwest who’s got a decent job and friends, loving family. But, it’s not until seeing her friend Eddie getting excited and nervous about the romantic rendezvous planned with his long distance girlfriend, Sofia, that she realizes she is lonely and envious of the pair. She was ripe for a romantic adventure of meeting a handsome stranger, spending some time together, and maybe falling a little in love. She knows there’s an expiration date since she’s on vacation far from home, but she does stays in the moment with ‘Andy’.
I appreciated how Marilyn Brant wrote Andrei’s character so, on one level, he’s innocent because of being a sheltered royal, but he’s personable and outgoing with a genuinely friendly and open personality for all his caution about the dangers of being mobbed by paparazzi or his life dug through for taking. I wondered how long he was going to keep up his secret of not being a regular, hard up guy with Jenna.
I enjoyed their romantic idyll with Rome the fabulous non-person member of their group with delicious foods, art, and historic sites. Against the backdrop was a couple of people falling in love, but knowing it couldn’t last. It wasn’t bittersweet and I loved how the ending was worked in a happy for now finish.
A delicious, vibrant feast for the senses that I recommend as a quick, engaging romance who love travel and royal elements to their reading.
About Marilyn Brant
Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award® in 2007 and she was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She wrote ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen, FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, and A SUMMER IN EUROPE, all women's fiction releases from Kensington Books. She's also a #1 Kindle & #1 Nook Bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, such as ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH, along with a bestselling coming-of-age romantic mystery (THE ROAD TO YOU), a sweet holiday romance (THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS), and the 7-book "Mirabelle Harbor" contemporary romance series. Look for her latest releases, THE SECRET LIFE OF MAGGIE BLAKE, a modern romantic spy comedy inspired by the Scarlet Pimpernel (May 2022), and NOT ANOTHER ROMAN HOLIDAY, a rom-com novella set in Italy. Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family, analyzing novels for the storytelling website Save the Cat! and working on her own writing projects. When she isn't rereading Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her author friends, she's daydreaming plot ideas for her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.
Stay Caffeinated!
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Katherine
I absolutely love this premise and I love that the author did a good job with the story. I need to pick this one up! Looks like perfect escapism reading. And I can’t resist a trip to Italy – virtual or otherwise.
Sophia Rose
Yay! Glad to tempt you, Katherine. 🙂
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I saw this one and wasn’t sure because I don’t always enjoy royal romances. But I think based on your review I’ll have to keep it on my TBR. Great review!
Sophia Rose
I’m the same about royal romances, but this one set round about Rome was a good one, Lisa. 🙂
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Sounds like a wonderful romance and adventure all in one! I love the “traveling” to destinations through the pages of a book! Italy is on my list of places I want to visit. Wonderful review, Sophia!
Sophia Rose
Same here! One of these years, I’ll do an around the world reading challenge just to fill my virtual passport. 🙂 This was a sweetheart of a story.
Mary Kirkland
Oh that sounds really good.
Sophia Rose
It was the perfect fit for a light, romantic quick heartwarmer set in Italy, Mary. 🙂
Nadene
This has a hallmark movie vibes and the fact you had fun makes me want to pick this one up.
Sophia Rose
Oh yeah, good call, Nadene. This would definitely work for a fun Hallmark romance. 🙂
Hope you get the chance at it.
Marilyn Brant
Thank you so much, Sophia Rose, for your lovely & thoughtful review! I’m beyond thrilled that you enjoyed the story!! ♡♡
Sophia Rose
A pleasure as always, Marilyn! Appreciate you stopping by and visiting. 🙂
Laurel-Rain Snow
WWW
Sophia Rose
Thanks for dropping by, Laurel Rain!