The Italian Lakes Affair

Escape to the sparkling shores of Lake Garda in this BRAND-NEW wish-you-were-here romance, where luxury and desire collide at one of Italy’s most exclusive cookery schools. ⛵

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Bohnet, Gillian Harvey and Phillipa Ashley!

‘Sun-drenched, deliciously romantic, and utterly escapist! This is a love story to savour’ Heidi Stephens

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

"The Italian Lakes Affair" was written by Rachel Barnett.

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.