Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Amazon Google Kobo Category:  Women Publisher: Kensington Publishing ISBN-10:  1516103556 Type: Fiction Pages: 250 Copyright: September 1, 2017 ISBN-13: 9781516103553 Price: $3.99 (eBook) In Italy, the best attractions are always off the beaten track. Mamie Weber learns that when you let yourself wander, life can take some interesting detours... Mamie Weber doesn’t know why she survived that terrible car accident five years ago. Physically, she has only a slight reminder—but emotionally, the pain is still fresh. Deep down she knows her husband would have wanted her to embrace life again. Now she has an opportunity to do just that, spending two weeks in Tuscany reviewing a tour company for her employer’s popular travel guide series. The warmth of the sun, the centuries-old art, a villa on the Umbrian border—it could be just the adventure she needs. But with adventure comes the unexpected . . . like discovering that her entire tour group is made up of aging ex-hippies reminiscing about their Woodstock days. Or finding herself drawn to the guide, Julian, who is secretly haunted by a tragedy of his own, and seems to disapprove any time she tries something remotely risky—like an impromptu scooter ride with a local man. As they explore the hilltop towns of Tuscany, Mamie knows that when this blissful excursion is over, she’ll have to return to reality. But when you let yourself wander, life can take some interesting detours . . . Excerpt In the driver’s seat sat a square-faced man with a full Romanesque nose and short, dark hair. He greeted her with a wide smile. “Ciao, bella.” She climbed the steps and smiled back. “Hello. I mean, Ciao. Sorry I’m late.” Before the nice man in the driver’s seat could respond, a man standing about halfway down the aisle said, “I’m sorry, miss. You’ve got the wrong bus.” Whoever he was, his cargo shorts and faded Led Zeppelin T-shirt didn’t carry any authority. But he held a clipboard, and his tone suggested he meant business. His Gaelic-looking face carried a slight boyish quality, hardened into a manly appearance due to his trimly cut mustache and beard. Wavy hair the color of cognac peeked out from beneath a gold cap with orange and blue lettering reading Wanderlust Excursions. “I’m sure the hotel front desk can help you find the right tour.” He gave her a now-hurry-along smile and turned back to the man he’d been talking to. “Did I just talk to you on the phone?” He lifted his chin and raised a brow. “We’re waiting for Felix.” His gaze traveled her from top to bottom then he looked her in the eyes. “I’m pretty sure you’re not Felix?” “No, but...” Mamie became aware of the silence and scanned the passengers. Everyone in the full bus stared back. Quiet. Curious. She squirmed and her gaze drifted back to the man who seemed to be in charge. “No. I’m not Felix, but if this is Wanderlust Excursions, it’s where I’m supposed to be.” He squinted. “Wait. Are you the woman who answered Felix’s phone?” “Yes. I’m taking his place on the tour.” He snorted. A short, patronizing laugh. “I don’t think so.” “Why not?” “Because you’re clearly not Felix.” “But he transferred his vouchers to me.” “Nobody told me. Our company rules state that purchased seats are not transferrable without prior home office approval.” He frowned and studied her again. “Besides, this is a specialized tour and you’re not a member of this group. Felix is.” “How do you know I’m not?” His lip curled into a little smirk. “Did you attend Woodstock?” “The concert?” “Is there another one?” “Well, no, but...” Mamie scanned the other passengers more carefully. Other than the guide—everyone else was probably over fifty-five. Maybe even over sixty. “What group are they part of?” “They are”—the guide, whose company sponsored tag read Julian, glanced at his clipboard—“the Woodstock Wanderers.” “Felix may not have been part of it either.” Mamie never heard him mention them before. “Are you kidding? Felix was one of our founder members.” A man with thinning white hair, dark-rimmed glasses, and a full white beard sitting in the front seat winked at Mamie. “Bernie” in capital letters sat square in the center of a nametag with a tie-dyed background. Beneath his name it said, “Favorite Woodstock Song: ‘Let’s Go Get Stoned,’ Joe Cocker.” Mamie would’ve never put Bernie together with that song, but... The bus’s silence and everyone watching her jarred her back to the problem at hand. “Felix never mentioned your group to me.” Guess she knew Felix but didn’t know him. The truth about how she and Felix knew each other, though, wasn’t something she could share. So she did the only thing she could do. Staring Julian square in the eye, she said, “Uncle Felix wanted me to take this trip. I’m his niece. He insisted I go in his place.” “His niece, huh?” The tour director rubbed the back of his neck and considered her again. He shook his head. “I’m sorry he’s decided not to come, but on the transfer, I can’t budge. Rules are rules.” A thin gentleman sitting a couple rows behind Bernie, with salt-and-pepper patches of hair above his ears, piped in. “Julian. Dude. Can’t you just go with the flow? She looks harmless. Let her come.” Mamie squinted. His tag read Bob, but before she could read more, the others joined in with choruses of “yeahs,” and she looked away. “You know what they say, Julian.” A woman with curly brown hair, peace sign earnings, and a pretty smile said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Mamie noted her nametag read Martha and her favorite Woodstock song was “Suite Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Still, and Nash. Julian pursed his lips. “All due respect Martha, me losing my job isn’t exactly small stuff.” Martha grinned slyly and winked. “We promise to keep it a secret from the boss.” She glanced around. “Right everybody?” Another chorus of loud “yeahs” filled the bus. One slim man with thinning hair who sat in the last row fist bumped the air. “We aren’t afraid of the man.” The passengers murmured and nodded, complete agreement on that one. Mamie loved this solidarity. Though she’d never considered herself a hippie—more like a loner—she had an incredible urge to be part of this group. Julian watched them, frowning. He refocused his attention on Mamie. “Sorry. I’m going to have to ask you to step out so we can start. We’re already running late.” Normally, Mamie respected timeliness, schedules, and rules. But she had a job to do. A mission to accomplish. “Please. My uncle, he really wanted me to go and—” Julian took several swift steps to the front of the bus and stopped close to her. He dropped his voice. “Listen, this isn’t personal. The last thing I need is to lose this job. Do me a solid and go see if you can get any of your money back.” She quietly replied, “You don’t understand. I need to go on this tour.” He narrowed his hard green eyes, but before he could say a thing, a chant filled the air. “Let her stay. Let her stay. Let her stay.” A blond-haired woman with a cherub face who sat at Bernie’s side spoke up over the chant. “Doesn’t she remind you of Tracy, Bern?” Her nametag read Sandra and her favorite Woodstock song was “Amazing Grace” by Arlo Guthrie. She patted Julian’s arm in a very maternal way. “Tracy’s our daughter. We’d love having some young energy around. Tracy’s just too busy working to spend any time with us.” Julian’s lower lip dropped. He drew in a deep breath, looked at Mamie, and motioned to the door. “Let’s talk outside.” She turned and headed off the bus. Little did he know, she wasn’t about to back down. Nothing would stop her from getting on this bus or making the most of this adventure. Two very good reasons existed for fighting the good fight. The memory of her husband and daughter.

Tuscany...
A lovely, picturesque journey through Tuscany that brings together two lost souls in need of a change in life who find out that some of the best, most life filled adventures could be those that does not challenge you physically yet still scares you immensely. When this book was first introduced to me, the blurb that accompanied the invitation reminded me of a movie 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. That movie touched my heart and was an inspirational experience to me, so I was eager to read this book to see if it could be as riveting and thought-provoking, even life-changing as the movie was to me. The pleasant flow of the story with expressive writing makes it enjoyable to read the sweet story that is appropriate for all ages.

The scenery from the tour in Italy opened up in my mind's eyes, and the beautiful, colorful landscapes were vividly clear in my mind. To visit Italy again, even via the story, was such a pleasure. The views, the attractions, the people, the lifestyle, the food, the smells, the chaos of traffic, and the joie de vivre of the locals filled my senses making me smile. The cast of characters on this journey were jovial, genuine, and true individuals. They seemed to have left their worries behind, and were just enjoying the moment, the company and everything the trip would offer them.

Mamie Weber was escaping her past, the grief of losing her family and trying to learn to embrace life again, to challenge herself both physically and mentally, to be out there, be vulnerable, to be brave, and to learn to trust again, not only others but herself as well. Julian is in mourning as well. His regrets from his past, adventure-filled life are hunting his sleep and mind. He leans on his new job's rules and regulations to have control in his life, a control that Mamie challenges with her own attempts to live fully again.

The journey is a sweet, delightful ride, filled with emotions from bliss and glee to angst and tears. The biggest challenge both Mamie and Julian have to face is their past and the fears that spring from the memories. After such an enjoyable expedition with the unique characters, the abrupt ending felt odd, leaving me wanting more in a sense of conclusion. A pilgrimage to find your true self again, to learn to trust and embrace life fully, while enjoying the gorgeous scenery of Tuscany. An entertaining and charming tale with a smooth, easygoing flow,

A great travelogue with a sweet romance.
Two wounded souls discover each other and begin to heal in picturesque Italy in the delightful travel novel, The Sweet Life by Sharon Struth. Following thirty-nine year-old Mamie Weber as she travels to Tuscany for a work assignment, which is a big leap for someone who has barely left her house in the last five years since a devastating car accident nearly ended her life. While tasked with secretly reviewing the tour company that she has to talk her way into due to a ticket transfer mix up--which just so happens to be full of welcoming people who'd attended Woodstock in the late sixties--Mamie takes the opportunity to see the Italian countryside as a new beginning, and a way to get some of the old her back. But she didn't bargain for the handsome tour guide Julian Gregory to catch her interest, or for his haunted eyes to pull her in while he tries to keep her safe from her wild sight-seeing ideas. Who knew that a two-week overseas trip could change two strangers lives so dramatically, so fast?

As Mamie is taken under the wings of a lovely husband and wife on the tour, as well as Julian's watchful and knowledgeable ones, Italy vibrantly comes to life under Sharon Struth's lovely descriptions of the sights, sounds, people, and glorious food that populate the Tuscan region. I felt as if I was traveling along with the group as the made their way from walled cities to towers, to vineyards and churches, finally winding up in a restored villa as they cap off their two-week journey. Not only do you get a great perspective on Mamie and Julian's narratives since The Sweet Life is told in their points of view, but the secondary characters are well-developed and fleshed out. I really loved how unique and colorful the members of the tour group were, as well as the locals we met along the way were just as I imagined.

I give The Sweet Life a five out of five. Mamie and Julian's journey is one of overcoming loss to find happiness again, and I really enjoyed their blossoming romance throughout the book. The writing was well-paced and the descriptions of the Tuscan country side and sights of interest made me yearn for a trip ASAP. The Sweet Life is a great travel log with a sweet romance throughout, wrapped up with a fun ode to the music of Woodstock mixed in. I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely recommend it to readers who love romance with a little bit of angst with more mature characters.


A Delightful Story
For those who love travel, humor, a cute romance, and just a fun excursion into Italy, this is a great story for you. Mamie is still dealing with the tragic accident that took everything from her ad though she doesn't want to go, the pleadings of her friend makes her take the tickets to Italy and go on a bus tour through the scenic country. There she finds out that friendship, mischief, and a little love might be just what the doctor ordered.

A delightful story that will have you smiling, this romantic tale is full of hope and enjoyable characters. I recommend this to those looking for just a perfect story to get lost in on a cold winter's day or even a hot summer one by the pool.