The Italian Lakes Affair: A BRAND NEW escapist sun-drenched romantic read for 2026

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