It Takes a Villa

Love blooms on Italy’s Amalfi Coast in this cute but flawed contemporary romance from Blades (Looks Good on Paper). American Natalie Malone is excited to be restoring her newly acquired Italian villa, which she plans to turn into a pensione. But with a tight budget and a tighter deadline placed on her by the Zavona Economic Development Council, she’s in way over her head. Thankfully, architect Pietro Indelicato offers to assist. Natalie is not used to accepting help, but she’ll lose everything if she fails to meet the council’s requirements—and she can’t resist the handsome local. Pietro has his own issues with the council; his father, the mayor, heads it and ignores all of Pietro’s warnings that the time pressure being put on developers is leading to unsafe corner cutting. He’s proven right when a neighboring property collapses, leaving Pietro worried about the woman who—between paint, plaster, and pastries—he has grown to love. Pietro’s plan to rectify this situation is where the plot hits its speed bumps. The secrecy and miscommunication between the couple lead to frustrating and entirely avoidable third act drama, abruptly dousing the lovers’ slow burn. It’s a fun setup that doesn’t pay off. Agent: Julie Gwinn, Seymour Agency. (June)