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Reviewed by Natasha Jackson for Readers' Favorite
A Dinner in Bellagio by Carlotta Melzi d’Este is a modern and erotic take on your typical May-December romance. Stuck in Rome after the untimely death of her second husband, Rose decides to finish her latest Italian cookbook at the Pearl of the Lake, also known as Bellagio. Agostino is a sexy young veterinary student who isn’t at all turned off by Rose’s advanced years. Rose is immediately attracted to “the boy” with his tanned skin and broad shoulders. Soon the two embark on a sensual journey of pleasure and discovery. What starts as a little flirting between consenting adults quickly turns into an impromptu spanking session and things just heat up from there!
At first I was a little put off by the stilted language but by the end of the story I think Carlotta Melzi d’Este did a fantastic job. I felt as though the story was being told by a loving Italian grandmother while slowly cooking homemade pasta sauce or bubbling polenta. The story was beyond sensual but not salacious. As Rose taught Agostino how to make love to and please a woman, he showed her what it was like to be pampered. More than that, Agostino showed Rose that she was capable of loving again, despite his youth. This was by no means a sleazy cougar with a young buck story. They both benefitted from their relationship in more ways than one. And any book that effectively combines the culinary and sensual arts is guaranteed to get your fire burning.
